via my inbox and BBC Sport:
The controversial rule change which led to the maul almost becoming extinct is set to be rejected by rugby chiefs.
An International Rugby Board conference has discussed the impact of the experimental law variations (ELVs) being trialled around the world.
After two days of review, 10 ELVs have been recommended to be passed into law.
But the variation allowing mauls to be pulled down was thrown out while the ELV which sees most offences penalised with a free-kick is to be reviewed.
ELVs recommended to be passed into law:
Law 6 – Assistant referees allowed
Law 19 – Kicking directly into touch from ball played back into 22 equals no gain in ground
Law 19 – Quick throw permitted in any direction except forward
Law 19 – Positioning of player in opposition to the player throwing-in to be two metres away from line-out and the line of touch
Law 19 – Pre-gripping of line-out jumpers allowed
Law 19 – Lifting in the line-out allowed
Law 19 – Positioning of receiver must be two metres away from line-out
Law 20 – Five-metre offside line at the scrum
Law 20 – Scrum-half offside line at the scrum
Law 22 – Corner posts no longer touch in goal
ELVs not recommended:
Law 17 – Maul, head and shoulders not to be lower than hips
Law 17 – Maul, pulling down the maul
Law 19 – Freedom for each team to determine line-out numbers
ELVs sent for further examination:
Sanctions and free-kicks
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Rugby’s Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) could be scrapped following the outcomes of an IRB meeting being held in London.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) is holding a two-day meeting in London with member unions and other stakeholders from around the globe to report on the laws trials and to decide which measures will be put to a formal vote, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Reports out of the United Kingdom claim most of the ELVs will be abandoned. Even the law that draws the offside line five metres back from the scrum, to give attackers more space, could be binned.
While many complain about rugby’s breakdown problems, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw has an idea of how to fix the issue. He says helping referees is crucial and a way has to be worked out to help them see more of what is going on.
McCaw is ambivalent as to whether they change the law at the breakdown but says keeping the defensive line five metres back at scrums is a must.
The Rugby Football Union’s Rob Andrew has also questioned the new laws positive impact.
“I don’t think they have delivered what the IRB lawmakers thought they would,” Andrew, the RFU’s director of elite rugby, told the BBC.
“There are significant discussions to be had around the sanctions, the line-out numbers, the maul and probably around the kicking. Has that been the cause of the aerial ping-pong which nobody seems able to stop once it starts?” he said.
“Ironically one of the reasons these rules were brought in was because people thought there was too much kicking in the World Cup in 2007. The statistics tell us that there is more kicking now than there was then.
“With all these decisions there are often unintended consequences. Now we’ve got to debate that with the statistics and evidence to make an informed decision in May.”
The ELVs‘ fate will finally be decided at an IRB Council vote on 13 May.
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