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ELVs and SCC 7s

From 1 August 2008 the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) below are being played worldwide. They also apply to the Sevens and Under 19 Variations of the game. Unless specifically amended by the ELVs, all other Laws of the Game remain unaltered.

Note that the following worldwide ELVs do not include the Tackle-Ruck (free kick) ELVs separately being trialled in this year's Super 14 and Tri Nations tournaments.

GLOBAL ELVs FROM 1 AUGUST 2008

Experimental Law Variations Summary

Law 6 - Match Officials

1 Touch Judges are now called Assistant Referees and are able to assist the referee in any way that the referee requires.

Law 17 - Maul

2 Players may now join a maul with head and shoulders lower than hips.

3 A player may pull a maul to the ground providing that player does so by pulling an opponent in the maul down from the shoulders to the hips (note that if players from the team not in possession of the ball are still bound to the maul after a player or players have been pulled to the ground the maul continues).

Law 19 - Touch and Lineout

4 If a team puts the ball back into its own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch, there is no gain in ground.

5 A quick throw in may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's own goal line.

6 There is no restriction on the number of players from either team who can participate in the lineout.

7 The receiver at the lineout must be 2 metres away from the lineout.

8 The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the 5-metre line and the touch line but must be 2 metres away from the 5-metre line.

9 Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in.

10 The lifting of lineout players is permitted.

Law 20 - Scrum

11 Introduction of an offside line 5 metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.

12 Scrum halves of the team not in possession of the ball to stay within 1 metre of the scrum, or retire 5 metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum. Law 22 – Corner Posts

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