Rugby: ELVs Coming to a Pitch Near You

Today, I found out via email of a change coming for me in the Fall.

The Stellenbosch Laws, aka the experimental law variations (ELVs) are coming to the New England Rugby Football Union, my governing union.

The ELVs were designed after the low scoring, try-less 2007 IRB World Cup Final between South Africa and England, where RSA came out the 15-6 victor. The ELV's main goal is to create a more try scoring-friendly style of play. Among the major changes to the old laws are:

Only offsides and forms of foul play (ex: diving over the ruck) are given long arm, traditional penalties. Most other penalties have been downgraded to short arm penalties/free kicks.

Playing a ball while engaged in the ruck is okay assuming no other infractions are being committed (this could end up a short arm penalty).

Defensive backs other than the No. 9 must be five meters behind the back foot of the No. 8 in scrums.

No defensive matching in lineouts—a team can have as many or as few as they want in the lineout. In turn, the opposing hooker does not have to stand between the five meter and touch line.

A ball kicked directly into touch that was passed behind the 22 meter line results in no field position gain and is treated like a kick directly into touch from in front of the 22.

Quick lineout throws can go straight or back towards the goal line of the team performing the quick lineout.

Neutralized mauls can be collapsed.

While I am excited to try out these new laws myself and see if it makes the game better, there is definitely one thing that I will really enjoy seeing with these new laws:

College-level rugby.

After spending four years in the college rugby level, I know one thing is for sure—there are many players at the college level who just cannot grasp the laws and gameplay of rugby.

If a player cannot grasp the concept of the offsides line in a kicking situation, there is nothing to make me think they will grasp these. Also, now that the touch judges can act as assistants to the referee, these players will probably be caught at an even greater frequency.

I would love to keep a running tally of how many times a team gains 30+ meters with ease because a wing got caught napping on a ball into touch.

I would love to see the faces of fly-halves who boot the ball into touch only to give the opposing team a lineout 15 meters from the line.

The pushing back of the defense in scrums will also benefit teams with tactically sound back lines.

Essentially, I would just love to see the guys who play rugby for the free beer and status of it get smoked by the guys who invest the time in becoming as good and smart a player as they can.

In football, if you couldn't grasp a rule like holding, you sit on the bench. In basketball, if you travel all of the time, you sit on the bench. In baseball, if you constantly ran out of the basepaths, you sit on the bench. Yet I see way too many players playing rugby without the slightest idea how to actually play other than "catch ball, run forward".

The ELVs will more than likely provide a more offensive-friendly game, but it can also provide great humor for those who actually take the time to invest themselves in the sport.

A real rugby player would assess the rule changes, determine how it will affect them as a player, and adjust. Those that do this will see the benefits against the ones that do not.

Yes, anyone who plays with the ELVs long enough can learn how to adapt to them, and the quick learners will come down to earth after awhile. Once again, though, if they cannot grasp the concept of offsides, imagine them Forrest Gump'ing their way through rule changes.

Rule changes they probably will not even be aware of until game one.