10 of 13 ELVs come into law

The International Rugby Board Council have approved 10 of the 13 Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for adoption into the laws of the game.

In addition, three Union-specific ELVs have also been approved for integration into law.

"One of the recommendations of the ELV Conference held in London at the end of March was the universal application of one set of laws that govern the game as soon as possible after council," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"This was recommended by stakeholders from the international game, including some of the world's top coaches, referees and administrators. The implementation date approved by the IRB Council achieves that goal and represents the most suitable application date.

"All international matches from May 23 onwards will be captured, while domestic and regional competitions played across the implementation date will be played under the current ELVs until their conclusion.

The following ELVs are to be adopted into law:

Law 6 - Assistant Referees able to assist Referees in any way the Referee requires.

Law 19 - If a team puts the ball back in their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain in ground.

Law 19 - A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's goal line.

Law 19 - The receiver at the line-out must be two metres back away from the line-out.

Law 19 - The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the five-metre line and touch line and must be two metres from the line of touch and at least two metres from the line-out.

Law 19 - Line-out players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in.

Law 19 - The lifting of line-out jumpers is permitted.

Law 20 - Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.

Law 20 - Scrum-half offside line at the scrum.

Law 20 - The corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in goal except when the ball is grounded against the post.

UnioN-specific ELVs approved by the IRB:

Unions may implement rolling substitutions at defined levels of the game.

A Union having jurisdiction over a game may implement a half-time interval of not more than 15 minutes, but not at international level.

A Union may implement the U19 Scrum Law Variation at a defined level of the game under its jurisdiction.