ELVs

The experimental law variations (ELVs) to be played in the 2009 Tri-Nations series and Investec Super 14 competition will be extended to all senior rugby in Australia in 2009.

Seventeen of the 18 ELVs being played at senior level will also be extended to the modified teenage laws, except for the ability to deliberately collapse a maul.

While this is allowed by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and will apply at all senior levels in Australia in 2009, the ARU is of the view that further safety research is needed before this ELV is adopted at Under 19 level and below.

And while the IRB has opted in most competitions including the current Test series to reduce the opportunities for free kicks as an alternative to full penalties, these will be more readily available to referees at all levels in Australia next year. 

The ELVs to apply in Australia in 2009 can be found here or at the link below.

In summary, 18 of the current 23 still under consideration will apply in the 2009 SANZAR Tri Nations, Investec Super 14 and Australian senior rugby, exceptions including allowing hands in the ruck and players being put onside after a tackle.

Under 13 – Under 19 Laws will apply 17 of those 18 ELVs, except for allowing players to defend a maul by pulling it down. 

At Mini and Midi Rugby levels (Under 9 – Under 12) 13 of the 17 U19 ELVs will apply, except for lifting in the lineouts and allowing uneven numbers in the lineouts.

There are no changes to Walla Rugby Laws.

The ARU has also changed the U19 law which previously allowed a player sent off or sin binned to be replaced. The Australian U19 law will also now align with the IRB U19 Variation and senior rugby where a temporary suspension or sin bin is for 10 minutes rather than five.

ELV Q&A:

Q) When will the ELVs commence for our competitions?
A) The ELVs are to come in to effect for competitions that commence on or after 1st January 2009 (For any competitions that commenced in 2008 and continue into 2009 the ELVs WILL NOT apply)

Q) How will we be educated about the ELVs?
A) The education process for the 2009 ELVS will include:

. 2009 SmartRugby CD is inclusive of all ELVs at the Community game
. All Coach/Referee Education courses will include ELVs laws and interpretation
· The ARU website will have coverage on their landing page for 2009 – QRU’s website will also have a link to this page
· The Game Management Guidelines document will provide a summary of all ELVs and the refereeing tips. This will be posted on the ARU website and provided to participants at Coach/Referee Ed. Courses in early 2009 – QRU’s website will also have a link to ARU’s website
· In the capital cities the ARU will initiate Coach/Referee Education nights with their SUM educators. (For large Unions the ARU will not have the resources to include country centres) – QRU will liaise with its Affiliates in the delivery of this education

Q) What are the new sin bin and red card law changes at Under 19 level?

A) For a temporary suspension (yellow card):

· Any player temporarily suspended WILL NOT be replaced
. The period of Temporary Suspension will now be ten (10) minutes (was five (5) minutes)
· The temporarily suspended player shall sit in the prescribed Temporary Suspended player area (currently is allowed to sit with team)
· This period of Temporary Suspension WILL NOT be deemed to have expired by half time (this is currently the case). The temporarily suspended player may attend the half time talk; however, must return to the prescribed Temporary Suspended player area after half time to complete the period of Temporary Suspension

For a send off (red card):
· Any player sent off WILL NOT be replaced

ELV Background

The original list of 29 ELVs was developed by an expert panel with a view to making the game easier to understand and referee, but without ruining the essential elements of rugby.

They were devised under the auspices of the IRB by Rod Macqueen (coach of the 1999 World Cup Wallabies), Pierre Villepreux (France), Richie Dixon (Scotland) and Ian McIntosh (South Africa), working with former NZ Test referee Paddy O'Brien, now the IRB's referees manager.

The objective was to come up with a simpler, shorter and more effective set of laws while retaining the essential features of the game. The experiment also aimed to quicken up the game and take the subjectiveness out of referees' decision making.

Macqueen said many laws had been added to rugby over the years but few if any were ever taken out. The review examined every law from the ground up and came up with 29 proposed changes.

Different variations have been applied in different competitions and countries to try to establish which should be kept and which discarded, with the list to be considered now down to 23.