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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.