"The IRB Council reaffirmed that the approved global trial of ELVs as adopted by Council in May this year will go ahead from August 1 with no alteration to the programme. The 13 approved ELVs will be implemented worldwide in the trial," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Council further determined that the present situation whereby different ELV programmes are being trialled around the world was far from ideal. It is the result of the nature of the ELV testing programme and the timing differences between the northern and southern seasons. However, Council is determined to ensure that one set of Laws are agreed on for the future in the shortest timeframe without compromising the ELV global trial."

"Therefore Council agreed that the Rugby Committee convene a meeting in the first quarter next year to begin the next phase of the formal ELV review process. This detailed review will include input from the IRB Executive Committee and Union representatives including Rugby technical directors. The Rugby Committee will then make a recommendation to Council in May 2009 on which, if any, ELVs should be adopted into Law," added Lapasset.

"Council did express its disappointment that an additional trial in a Northern Hemisphere tournament of the sanctions ELV that have been trialled in the Super 14 has yet to be agreed by Rugby stakeholders in the northern hemisphere. Council requested in May that the sanctions ELV be trialled in a top level competition somewhere in the north to allow further detailed analysis and comparison of this part of the initial ELV programme. This ELV sees many penalty goals awarded for technical offences down graded to free kicks."

"We remain hopeful that following further discussions between Unions, clubs and provinces and other stakeholders in the north such a trial will be put in place during the upcoming 2008/09 season," added Mr Lapasset.

Council also noted that Unions have developed different Player pathway programmes unique to their Player development requirements and structures. The custom and practice has evolved whereby some Unions, while not creating new Laws, have evolved local applications of the Laws of the Game to complement their local circumstances and development pathways at Under 19 levels.

"With the move by many senior Unions to make Under 20 the key player pathway target for Age Grade Rugby, Council has decided that this practice of local pathways and specific Law application should be fully reviewed. A full audit will be carried out on such pathways applied by various Unions around the world. The review will determine whether the age threshold of Under 19 for Age Grade variations was still suitable for the Game. A recommendation will be made to Council towards the end of 2009 on any future applications and/or at which age level they may be applied to," said Lapasset.

"While this comprehensive review is underway Council agreed that Unions may continue at their own risk to maintain local Law adaptations at Under 19 level and below which fit local pathway requirements and which address other necessary or relevant circumstances. This includes local application of the ELVs approved for global trial from August 1 this year," added Lapasset.

Individual Experimental Law Variations

Law 6 - Match Officials

1 Assistant referees are able to assist the referee in any way that the referee requires.

Law 17 - Maul

2 Remove reference to head and shoulders not being lower than hips.

3 Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down.

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 Identification of scrum half offside lines.

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.

Click here to review the ELV programme that will be implemented on August 1