ELVs to be trialled next season

The IRB has inflicted these ‘essential’ changes on Northern Hemisphere rugby, from club level through to international. The changes below have been copied from the BBC, since I thought people might have a few things to say about them.

Changes to be trialled worldwide include:

- Players can defend a maul by pulling it down.

- Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.

- No restriction on the number of players who can participate in the lineout from either side (minimum of two).

- The receiver in a lineout must stand two metres back from the lineout.

- Flags are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post.

Further ELVs to be trialled in an elite northern hemisphere competition, expected to be the European Challenge Cup, include:

- For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10 - Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.

- If the ball is unplayable at the breakdown, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a free kick.

- If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free kick.

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