Tri-Nations gets 'special' ELVs
SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) has underlined its commitment to the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) by agreeing on special Tri-Nations ELVs to showcase the best of the game's new laws.
In a statement released on Monday, SANZAR said the Tri-Nations would be played under the laws that applied in the Super 14 competition, with the addition of two of the ELVs that will be going into global use when the new laws are trialed worldwide from August 1.
These two new laws for the Tri-Nations will permit the pulling down of the maul and remove the requirement that teams match numbers at the line-out.
"We believe the laws we will play in the nine matches of the Tri-Nations will provide a rigorous examination of the most fundamental of the ELVs," said Jonathan Stones, CEO of SANZAR.
"We discussed a range of laws options from playing under the old laws, [as they will apply in the June tour programmes] to the 'new' ELVs that will apply worldwide from August 1.
"We could not immediately agree on which set to apply as all of them had their merits within the complex laws' schedule that has been a product of the ELV process in the southern hemisphere.
"However the solution we agreed on allows our players to approach the competition with the confidence of having played a full Super 14 season under these laws while adding in two that are straightforward, clear-cut and leave no room for the nuances of interpretation."
Australian Rugby Union CEO John O'Neill also welcomed the decision to introduce "special" ELVs for the Tri-Nations - which will get underway when New Zealand host South Africa in Wellington on July 5.
"I believe we've found a resolution over the weekend," said O'Neill.
"I think that's a fairly reasonable outcome, given South Africa and Australia wanted the Super 14 ELVs - particularly the sanctions - as a pivotal part of the ELVs.
"And we would have to, in the November tours to the northern hemisphere, embrace unlimited numbers in the line-out and pulling down the maul, in any case.
"So putting them into the Tri-Nations, I think, is a pretty sensible compromise and I thank everyone involved in that process for getting on the same page."