Last Updated: Thursday, 28 May 2009

LAW CHANGES 2009/2010

The International Rugby Board (iRB) has approved the following changes to the Laws of the game, which will come into effect at all levels of domestic rugby in England from 1st JUNE 2009.

The Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) on pulling down the maul and matching numbers in the lineout have not been approved for adoption and will therefore be discontinued.

No further ELVs will be introduced before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
 

1.         EXPERIMENTAL LAW VARIATIONS ADOPTED INTO LAW

The following ELVs are to be adopted into Law:

Law 6

Assistant Referees able to assist Referees in any way the Referee requires

Law 19

If a team puts the ball back in their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain in ground

Law 19

A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team’s goal line

Law 19

The receiver at the lineout must be two metres back away from the lineout

Law 19

The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand in the area between the five metre line and touch line and must be two metres from the line of touch and at least two metres from the lineout

Law 19

Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in

Law 19

The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted

Law 20

Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the Scrum

Law 20

Scrum half offside line at the Scrum

Law 20

The corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in goal except when the ball is grounded against the post

2.         UNION SPECIFIC ELVs APPROVED BY THE iRB COUNCIL

a)      Unions may implement rolling substitutions at defined levels of the Game.

b)      A Union having jurisdiction over a Game may implement a half time interval of not more than 15 minutes.

c)      A Union may implement the Under 19 Scrum Law Variation at a defined level of the Game under its jurisdiction.

I

Email  info@FulhamRugby.co.uk  for further information