Here is a list of the experimental law changes that are to be implemented this season

EXPERIMETAL LAW VARIATIONS TO BE TRIALLED – 2008/2009

ELV 1 Law 6 - Match Officials
Assistant referees are able to assist the referee in any way that the referee requires.

What this means for the Game
When appointed by a match organiser, qualified touch judges will be known as assistant referees and can, at the discretion of the referee, be assigned additional responsibilities.

This ELV is designed to allow assistant referees to provide additional information to the referee to assist in decision making.


ELV 2 Law 17 - Maul
Remove reference to head and shoulders not being lower than hips.

What this means for the Game
Failure of players to keep their heads and shoulders above their hips throughout the maul will no longer constitute an offence.

This ELV is necessary because of Experimental Law Variation 3

ELV 2 WILL NOT BE TRIALLED AT UNDER 19 AND BELOW


ELV 3 Law 17 - Maul
Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down.

What this means for the Game
A defending team may pull the maul to the ground.

To do this, the defender must grasp an opposing player in the maul anywhere between the shoulders and the hips and then pull that player to the ground. If the maul is brought down by any other action it is regarded as a collapse which remains illegal.

ELV 3 WILL NOT BE TRIALLED AT UNDER 19 AND BELOW


ELV 4 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
If a team puts the ball back into its own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch, there is no gain in ground.

What this means for the Game
Teams will no longer be able to pass or play the ball back into their own 22 and then kick directly to touch in order to gain ground.

This ELV is designed to ensure that defending teams do not have an unfair advantage over attacking teams. It encourages tactical kicking and counter-attacking skills.


ELV 5 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
A quick throw in may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team’s own goal line.

What this means for the Game
When taking a quick throw in, a player will no longer be required to throw the ball straight along the line of touch. If an advantage can be gained by throwing the ball directly to a team-mate who is behind the line of touch, this will be legal. The ball must still travel 5 metres before it touches the ground or another player.

This ELV is designed to increase the likelihood of a quick throw in providing a positive opportunity for the team taking the throw in to run the ball rather than opting for the lineout.


ELV 6 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
There is no restriction on the number of players from either team who can participate in the lineout.

What this means for the Game
At a lineout the team who is not throwing in the ball will no longer have their number of lineout players governed by the number of lineout players chosen by the team throwing in the ball. As long as there are at least two players from each team to form a lineout, and all lineout players fit between the 5-metre and 15-metre lines, there is no further restriction on numbers.

This ELV is designed to allow teams more flexibility in their tactics at the lineout.


ELVs 7 & 8 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
1. The receiver at the lineout must be 2 metres away from the lineout.

2. The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the 5-metre line and the touch line but must be 2 metres away from the 5-metre line.

What this means for the Game
If a team chooses to have a receiver (a player in position to catch the ball when lineout players pass or knock the ball back from the lineout) that player must be 2 metres away from the lineout itself.

Similarly, the defending team must have a player in immediate opposition to the player throwing in and that player must stay 2 metres away from the 5 metre line.

These ELVs are designed to assist the referee in providing a clear 2 metre zone around the lineout. The referee will be able to clearly identify which player is the receiver and will be able to clearly see that the player immediately opposing the thrower is not a lineout player.


ELV 9 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in.

What this means for the Game
Players will no longer be required to wait until the player throwing in has released the ball before they grip a player who will jump to catch the ball.


ELV 10 Law 19 - Touch and Lineout
The lifting of lineout players is permitted.

What this means for the Game
Players will be able to lift team-mates in the lineout. However, support players must wait until the ball has left the hands of the player throwing it in before lifting their team-mate.


ELV 11 Law 20 - Scrum
Introduction of an offside line 5 metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.

What this means for the Game
At the scrum, both back lines (all non-participants in the scrum) must be back 5 metres from the hindmost feet of the scrum.

This ELV is designed to increase the space available to the team who wins the ball at the scrum. By having all the forwards committed at the scrum itself and 10 metres between the back lines, significant space is created in which to build an attack.


ELV 12 Law 20 - Scrum
Identification of scrum half offside lines.

What this means for the Game
As a result of the introduction of the 5 metre offside line at the scrum, there is a need to establish the offside lines which apply to a scrum half.


ELV 13
The corner posts are no longer considered to be in touch-in-goal except when the ball is grounded against the post.

What this means for the Game
A try will no longer be disallowed if the ball carrier touches the corner post before grounding the ball as long as that player has not otherwise been in touch. A try will still be disallowed if the ball is grounded against the corner post. If the ball hits the corner post and bounces back into the playing area, the game continues.

This ELV is designed to avoid tries being disallowed simply because a player has taken out the corner post. It will also serve to simplify the role of the Television Match Official who will no longer need to discern whether the player made contact with the corner post before grounding the ball.