Rugby: New law ruling could clean up breakdowns - O'Brien

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is hoping a new law ruling could help clean up the breakdown , referees manager Paddy O'Brien said today.

O'Brien said the ruling, approved by the IRB council "may make a difference to the dynamics of the tackle".

Under the ruling, if the tackler or the first person arriving at the breakdown had their hands on the ball, they were now entitled to keep their hands on the ball, even though a ruck had formed.

O'Brien said the ruling would begin to be used in the upcoming international season.

"Until we see it in operation, which we will see quite a lot of during the July test matches, we won't know exactly how it is going to work out.

"But I'm confident it will certainly assist refereeing and the players," he told Radio Sport.

The IRB also formally ratified a recommendation by their rugby committee to approve 10 of the 13 global experimental law variations (ELVs) into the rules of the game.

The recommendations of the IRB committee were unanimously approved and the laws would be implemented globally from May 23.

Most of the 10 ELVs which will become laws of the game relate to the line-out and scrum.

In addition, three Union-specific ELVs were also approved for integration into law.

These include the ability for a Union to implement a maximum 15-minute halftime in matches under its jurisdiction.

O'Brien said with today's decisions, there would be no further changes between now and 2011 World Cup hosted by New Zealand.

THE 10 ELVS APPROVED BY THE IRB

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

- NZPA