IRB's ELVs in ARC

The International Rugby Board's experimental law variations (ELVs) will be further tested in the new Australian Rugby Championship.

The championship is an entirely new competition with eight brand new teams and they will play under these law experiments whose future is not yet decided.

The ELVs, sometimes referred to as the Stellenbosch Laws because that is where the testing started, are possible changes to the laws. Any implementation of any or all of them will be decided after the 2007 Rugby World Cup and would come into operation only during 2008.

IRB officials will be in Sydney and Canberra for the opening round of the ARC with the chance to see the ELVs in action in a high-level competition.

Those who will be there are Bill Nolan, (Scotland), Noel Murphy (Ireland), Graham Mourie (New Zealand), Paddy O'Brien, the IRB's refereeing boss, and Eddie Morrison (England).

Rod Macqueen, the former Wallaby coach and one of the architects of the changes, said: "This is the highest level at which the Experimental Laws have been tried to date.

"Previously a number of the IRB ELVs were on show in club Rugby in Brisbane and Sydney and prior to that in the UK, all to very positive reviews.

"The fact that so many IRB officials will be here to see them at work in the Sydney and Canberra opening Mazda ARC fixtures is testament to the importance being placed on bringing a fresh approach to Rugby."

The Experimental Law Variations were initially devised in 2005 and aim to create a game more exciting and enjoyable for both players and spectators while keeping in mind the basic principles of the game in that it is a game for all shapes and sizes.

The ARC lasts for 10 weeks.

The teams are: Perth Spirit, Melbourne Rebels, Canberra Vikings, Western Sydney Rams, Sydney Fleet, Central Coast Rays, East Coast Aces (Gold Coast) and Brisbane's Ballymore Tornadoes.