ozbash
Referee
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Super 14 rugby will showcase the IRB's experimental laws in 2008, though not all of them, as Sanzar today voted to green light only a selection of the new regulations for next season's competition.
Sanzar, the body comprising the South African, New Zealand and Australian unions, announced from Sydney it had adopted "a range" of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for the 2008 Super 14 competition.
Though notably the contentious regulations allowing hands in the ruck, no numbers requirement at lineout time and collapsing of the maul have not been included among the approved changes.
The variations adopted by Sanzar for the Super 14 relate to the laws governing:
Posts and flags around the field
Inside the 22 metre line
Lineout
Breakdown (tackle/post tackle)
Scrum
Sanctions
Proponents of the ELVs say the aim is to keep the ball in play longer, with fewer stoppages and more running rugby, thereby creating a more free-flowing and faster style of play.
There is also the hope that the new regulations will take much of the uncertainty out of some of the key decision-making areas for referees and make the game simpler to understand for all concerned.
The regulations were originally developed at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and have since been trialled in a Stellenbosch university league, Australia's new provincial championship and New Zealand's B provincial competition. They have also been used in Brisbane club rugby and in some UK events.
Today's announcement is probably more notable for the regulations that have not made it past Sanzar's chopping board. The ability to bring the maul to ground had been considered a controversial move, while removing the numbers requirement at the lineout, though simplifying the set piece, was considered an unnecessary change to a part of the game that works fairly well now.
The hands in the ruck proposal has also failed to pass muster. The idea was that it would create an "anything goes" approach to the breakdown, but the southern hemisphere unions have not been prepared to roll the dice with it.
New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the new introductions should lead to a more attractive game in the Super 14.
"The IRB asked Sanzar to trial the ELVs and we are happy to do that. It will be the highest level of rugby competition at which they have been trialled, which is exciting.
"The trial of the ELVs in our mens B competition saw a more open game and the variations we are trialling were positively received by our players, coaches and referees."
Australian deputy chief executive Matt Carroll said the decision will ensure the Super 14 remains at the forefront of the game.
"The ELVs we are trialling have received very favourable reviews in all of the trials conducted so far and the 2008 Super 14 is a unique chance to expose spectators and fans across the globe to the benefits of the new laws."
The 2008 Super 14 kicks off on February 15.
Experimental Law Variations to be applied in the 2008 Super 14:
1. Posts and flags around the field (ARC variation)
a. Corner posts will be positioned at the outside junction of the goal line and the touch-line.
i. If a player is in possession of the ball and touches a corner post he will not be in touch unless he touches the touchline or the ground beyond the touchline.
ii. If the ball is not being carried by a player and it touches the corner post the ball will be deemed to be touch in goal.
Inside the 22-metre line
2. When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22, the following can occur:
a. If the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked.
b. 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.
Lineout
3. On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders goal-line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line.
Breakdown (tackle/post tackle)
4. Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate.
5. Immediately the tackle occurs there are offside lines.
6. The halfback should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.
Scrum
7. The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the teams scrum half, is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.
Sanctions
8. For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-foul play, the sanction is a free-kick.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4311768a1823.html
Sanzar, the body comprising the South African, New Zealand and Australian unions, announced from Sydney it had adopted "a range" of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) for the 2008 Super 14 competition.
Though notably the contentious regulations allowing hands in the ruck, no numbers requirement at lineout time and collapsing of the maul have not been included among the approved changes.
The variations adopted by Sanzar for the Super 14 relate to the laws governing:
Posts and flags around the field
Inside the 22 metre line
Lineout
Breakdown (tackle/post tackle)
Scrum
Sanctions
Proponents of the ELVs say the aim is to keep the ball in play longer, with fewer stoppages and more running rugby, thereby creating a more free-flowing and faster style of play.
There is also the hope that the new regulations will take much of the uncertainty out of some of the key decision-making areas for referees and make the game simpler to understand for all concerned.
The regulations were originally developed at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and have since been trialled in a Stellenbosch university league, Australia's new provincial championship and New Zealand's B provincial competition. They have also been used in Brisbane club rugby and in some UK events.
Today's announcement is probably more notable for the regulations that have not made it past Sanzar's chopping board. The ability to bring the maul to ground had been considered a controversial move, while removing the numbers requirement at the lineout, though simplifying the set piece, was considered an unnecessary change to a part of the game that works fairly well now.
The hands in the ruck proposal has also failed to pass muster. The idea was that it would create an "anything goes" approach to the breakdown, but the southern hemisphere unions have not been prepared to roll the dice with it.
New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the new introductions should lead to a more attractive game in the Super 14.
"The IRB asked Sanzar to trial the ELVs and we are happy to do that. It will be the highest level of rugby competition at which they have been trialled, which is exciting.
"The trial of the ELVs in our mens B competition saw a more open game and the variations we are trialling were positively received by our players, coaches and referees."
Australian deputy chief executive Matt Carroll said the decision will ensure the Super 14 remains at the forefront of the game.
"The ELVs we are trialling have received very favourable reviews in all of the trials conducted so far and the 2008 Super 14 is a unique chance to expose spectators and fans across the globe to the benefits of the new laws."
The 2008 Super 14 kicks off on February 15.
Experimental Law Variations to be applied in the 2008 Super 14:
1. Posts and flags around the field (ARC variation)
a. Corner posts will be positioned at the outside junction of the goal line and the touch-line.
i. If a player is in possession of the ball and touches a corner post he will not be in touch unless he touches the touchline or the ground beyond the touchline.
ii. If the ball is not being carried by a player and it touches the corner post the ball will be deemed to be touch in goal.
Inside the 22-metre line
2. When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22, the following can occur:
a. If the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked.
b. 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.
Lineout
3. On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders goal-line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line.
Breakdown (tackle/post tackle)
4. Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate.
5. Immediately the tackle occurs there are offside lines.
6. The halfback should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.
Scrum
7. The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the teams scrum half, is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.
Sanctions
8. For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-foul play, the sanction is a free-kick.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4311768a1823.html
