If you weren't already aware, the IRB have introduced new laws to the game that will come into play this season. These laws will be played worldwide at all levels of the game from 1 August 2008.

The laws will affect a number of different aspects of the game from the maul and line-out to laws concerning kicking the ball from your 22 to gain ground so having a better understanding of the laws than your opponents could prove invaluable.

This piece is guide to the ELVs (experimental law variations) and how you can use the new laws to your advantage on the playing field (click here to see the full IRB breakdown with graphic illustrations).

KICKING FROM THE 22
If a team puts the ball back into its own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch, there is no gain in ground.
Teams will no longer be able to pass or play the ball back into their own 22 and then kick the ball directly into touch in order to gain ground
However
If the ball has been passed back into the 22, a tackle, ruck or maul has occurred, and then kicked directly into touch, the lineout will take place where the ball went into touch
Why change?
" This is designed to ensure that defending teams do not have an unfair advantage over attacking teams by encouraging tactical kicking and counter-attacking skills

THE SCRUM
At the scrum, both back lines (all non-participants in the scrum) must be back five metres from the hindmost feet of the scrum
Why change?
" he new offside line will provide more space to attack for the backs while creating more opportunity for an increased number and variance of back row moves (provides greater reward for team that wins the scrum)

THE MAUL
Players can now defend a maul by pulling it down
However
Players must grab an opposing player between the shoulder and hips. A penalty will be given against a player who collapses the maul by tackling a player around the legs
Why change?
" This will now make the maul more defendable though a well drilled rolling maul will still remain a potent attacking force.
NB) The reference to players shoulders having to be lower than the hips in the maul has also been removed

THE LINE-OUT
1) When taking a quick throw in, a player will no longer be required to throw the ball straight along the line of touch though the ball must still travel five metres
Why change?
" This change will mean that the ball will be quickly back in play
" The change will also benefit teams with a weak line-out
NB) Defending teams may wish to consider a chasing strategy to combat a counter attack from a quickly taken line-out
2) Line-out numbers:
The attacking team no longer determines the numbers in the line-out, no team does. The only rule concerning line-out numbers is that you must have a minimum of two players in the line-out (so long as they fit between the five metre and 15-metre lines)
Why change
" This development will bring about a host of new line-out moves
NB) You may want to work on defensive communication to cope with quick adaptation to numbers as these will require quick thinking through defensive strategies and attacking tactics for potential unmatched numbers in any line-out.
3) You can now legally lift and pre-grip your line-out jumper
Why change?
This law reflects the current practice in the game

CORNER POSTS ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO BE IN TOUCH-IN-GOAL EXCEPT WHEN THE BALL IS GROUNDED AGAINST THE POST
A try will no longer be disallowed if the ball carrier touches the corner post before grounding the ball as long as that player has not otherwise been in touch.
A try will still be disallowed if the ball is grounded against the corner post.
If the ball hits the corner post and bounces back into the playing area, the game continues.
Why change?
This law change is designed to avoid tries being disallowed simply because a player has taken out the corner post. It will also serve to simplify the role of the Television Match Official who will no longer need to discern whether the player made contact with the corner post before grounding the ball.

This article was posted on 11-Aug-2008, 12:23 by Hugh Barrow.