ELVs
ELVs [Experimental Law Variations] — also known as the Stellenbosch Laws — are new rugby Laws being trialled by the International Rugby Board [IRB]. They are a proposed set of amendments to the current rules of rugby union and represent a radical departure from the usual carefully staged approach to making changes to the way rugby is played and refereed.
The ELVs were first trialled by the IRB during matches played at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, hence the use of the phrase ‘Stellenbosch Laws’, first used by the Roar’s Spiro Zavos, who makes the point that “before the ELVs the rule was very stacked in favour of the attacking team. It was difficult to stop and to me was more like an illegal obstruction. I think they [the IRB] will look at ways to make it a more even contest.”
More recently the International Rugby Board recommended that ten of the thirteen ELVs currently being trialled in the Southern Hemisphere should be permanently incorporated into rugby’s rule book.
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
There has been some discussion (well, debate) on the Roar amongst the various rugby heads about the new rules interpretations being applied in the Super 14 by SANZAR, and how this fits within the global game.
No one seemed quite sure how the IRB would avoid the fiasco of the ELVs, where each hemisphere adopted [...] Read article
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
The new interpretations of the breakdown laws have processed a have produced a massive number of tries in the first two rounds of the 2010 Super 14 competition.
Personally, like most rugby fans, I like to see ball in hand rugby and tries being scored. I don’t mind the odd blowout score, either. If nothing else, [...] Read article
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Friday week sees the beginning of a new Super 14 season, which is make or break for the Australian Rugby Union. Australia’s number two code at the turn of the century is now fading out of the public’s mind and is now below football.
This was unthinkable back in 2003 after the success of the World [...] Read article
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Watching the Test match on a Saturday afternoon in 2008 between the All Blacks and South Africa, I was impressed with the non-stop tear-away speed of the game brought about by the inclusion of the ELVs.
But the highlight of the match, to my eyes, was the try scored by Ricky Januarie, the South African [...] Read article
Monday, December 21st, 2009
The times they are a changing. Unfortunately, the IRB isn’t and many people feel that rugby was halted in its tracks thanks to the code-schism (by both Mungos and Ruggers).
Now that the national rugby unions that objected to the ELV’s so openly and aggressively are waking up to themselves slowly, the game is still [...] Read article
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
“The choreographed pursuit of kickable penalties.” That is distinguished English rugby commentator Paul Hayward’s elegant definition of what we lesser talents call Whistle Ball, “the game of organising the ref into blowing his whistle within a specific 40 percent or so of the grass.”
Writing in The Guardian, Hayward describes Whistle Ball specialists England as [...] Read article
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
With senior figures from the rugby world’s governing bodies having met at their yearly summit, I’d like to weigh in with an opinion on how the problems in the game should be addressed.
Before you can fix a problem, you must first decide exactly what the problem is and then what is causing it.
Once [...] Read article
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
As a Catholic North Shore private schoolboy, I have noticed a similarity between Christianity and rugby in Australia. Both have had schisms, resulting in two different codes, and both have to fight for popularity of the general public.
This leads me to what rugby union needs to do.
In 1962 the Vatican (Catholic Church) began the Vatican [...] Read article
