ELVs to be trialled worldwide as of August 1st 2008 at all levels of the 15-a-side game
ELV
Key Point (s)
Assistant Referees
Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner required when appointed by a match organiser
This currently happens. Under the ELV, touch judges will be known as “assistant referees”
Posts and Flags around the Field
The corner posts, and posts at corner of touch in goal and dead ball line, are no longer considered to be in touch in goal except when a ball is grounded against the post.
Under the ELV, a player can touch the corner post in the act of scoring and the try be awarded; this assumes that neither the ball or the player carrying the ball are in touch
Lineout and Throw
When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22 by any means, the following can occur:
· If the ball is kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked
· If a tackle, ruck or maul is subsequently formed and the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is where the ball crossed the touch line
Under current Law, if the ball is passed back into the 22 and then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball crossed the touch line
A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team’s own goal line
Under current law the ball must be thrown in straight.
There is no restriction in the number of players who can participate in the lineout from either side (minimum of 2)
Under current Law, the team throwing in the ball determines the maximum number of players in the lineout
The receiver in a lineout must stand 2 metres back from the lineout
This is not stipulated under current law; the “receiver” is the player waiting to receive the ball from a lineout who must stand between the 5m and 15m
The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball may stand in the area between the 5 metre line and touch line but must be 2 metres away from the lineout
Under current law the player standing in the area between the touch line and 5m may join the lineout as soon as the ball is thrown. This can still happen but this player must do so from a start point 2m from the lineout. He must remain onside as per current law.
Pre-gripping, lifting and using another team mate to lever is allowed
Under current law none of these actions is allowed. Players may pre-grip a team mate providing they do not pre-grip below the shorts from behind and below the thighs from the front.
Maul
Players may defend a maul by pulling it down
Current law states that “a player must not intentionally collapse a maul”, which will remain the case. Under the ELV, a player can pull down a maul by pulling a player down from his/her shoulder to hips
Remove reference in Law to head and shoulders not to be lower than hips
Scrum
The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the team’s scrum half is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum
Under current law players not in the scrum are offside if they are in front of the hindmost foot of a teammate bound to the scrum.
