The decision to use the Experimental Law Variations for the Super 14 competition in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa was a hasty one, perhaps borne out of an unentertaining Rugby World Cup.

As a result, SANZAR have decided to leave out three of the most radical changes: Hands allowed in the ruck, collapsing a maul, and removing numbers from the line-out. Those which are left are a mixture of common-sense changes, and laws favouring attacking play.

Some of the more common-sense changes include allowing teams to throw the ball backwards when taking a quick throw-in, rather than the current requirement that the throw be straight, and no longer allowing teams to take the ball inside their own 22 and then kick directly to touch. The intention of the latter law is to encourage counter-attacks rather than aerial ping-pong like kicking duels.

'If these laws are adopted at all levels of the game, club and youth rugby will struggle to enforce some of them'


Other laws fall into the "evolutionary" not "revolutionary" category, such as removing the corner flags to make scoring tries in the corner easier and allowing the non-throwing hooker to stand wherever he likes at line-outs. The final evolutionary change is the offside lines are established as soon as a tackle takes place, removing any confusion as to where players may join from and hopefully meaning we will never hear a referee refer to the confusing "gate" ever again.

One of the most obvious and radical changes is moving the offside line at the scrum from the last foot to five metres behind the last foot, creating a larger buffer between the two back lines. Players such as Dan Carter, Nick Evans and Matt Giteau have already been taking advantage of this law in trial matches, Carter ghosting through the line from the first attacking scrum against the Waratahs was an obvious example.

Touch judges will now be known as "flag judges" and their primary responsibility will be to enforce the offside law, much like assistant referees do in football. There will also be fewer opportunities to kick for goal as only offside and foul play will result in penalties; all other penalty offences will now result in free kicks.

The obvious flaw with some of these new laws is that they require not only appointed flag judges, but also communication equipment. While this is not an issue at Super 14 level, if these laws are adopted at all levels of the game, club and youth rugby will struggle to enforce some of them.

Trials of these variations have been successful in some Australian club competitions, Scotland's Super Cup and the New Zealand 'B' provincial tournament as well as some university level games in various nations. Most have seen the ball spend longer in play, fewer shots at goal, less kicking for position and more use of short attacking kicks.

This is also the highest level at which the ELVs have been trial, and should they be successful it is likely they will be be trialled at full international level. The fate of the three most radical changes remains unknown, but the failure to be adopted by SANZAR is likely their death knell. 

Last year's Super 14 saw a change to the scrum engagement process and players took a number of weeks to get used to the change. It is quite likely that fans will see some confusion from players again as they adapt, but by the end of the tournament fans should be seeing some wonderful attacking rugby.

Will these Law variations lead to more entertaining rugby? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.

Rugby Union, Scottish Rugby Union, Rugby Football Union