Next year’s Super 14 competition will trial several law changes designed to make the game faster and more exciting to watch.
The decision to introduce the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) was taken at a South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions (Sanzar) meeting in Sydney on Tuesday.
”We’re introducing the new laws to Super 14 to supercharge super rugby,” Australian Rugby Union (ARU) deputy chief executive officer Matt Carroll told reporters.
”The Sanzar nations have always been at the forefront of the game and yet again Sanzar is to lead the world.”
Among the changes to be tried out are that backlines must stand five metres away from the scrum and that quick throw-ins to lineouts are now allowed to go backwards.
All offences except offside and foul play will be punished by a free kick rather than a penalty.
The main aim of the ELVs is to keep the ball in play longer with fewer stoppages and more running rugby to create a faster and more exciting style of play.
”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,” New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said.
Other possible rule changes, including allowing hands in the ruck and pulling down mauls, will not be trialled due to concerns over the vagueness of their interpretation. – Reuters