RFU Toast victory on ELVs

England were celebrating on Tuesday after leading a successful northern hemisphere revolt against the most controversial experimental law variations.

Two of the most divisive ELVs have effectively been swept off the table following a high-level conference in south-west London, featuring nearly 60 of the most influential figures in world rugby.

After two days of detailed review, including statistics from over 800 matches in 15 different countries, the groundswell of opinion was to throw out the ELV which allows mauls to be pulled down. And the sanctions experiment currently employed in the southern hemisphere - where most offences are penalised with a free-kick - has been sent away for further evaluation.

The Rugby Football Union, who have been at the vanguard of the debate, argued against both ELVs in a presentation delivered by their head of elite coach development Kevin Bowring.

The Twickenham representatives were also delighted to receive support in their stance to banish the experiment of unrestricted lineout jumpers.

"We have worked closely with the other Six Nations unions to paint as accurate a picture as possible of the impact that the ELVs have had," said Chris Cuthbertson, chair of the RFU's ELV task group and one of four Twickenham officials at the conference.

"We presented that to the conference and we are delighted that they have taken our views on board.

"The whole idea of the ELVs is to improve the sport. We support the majority of the globally trialled ELVs but the feedback from the game and our game analysis indicates that pulling down the maul and unrestricted numbers in the lineout have not improved the game."

The conference - which featured players, coaches, referees and administrators - was not a decision-making forum but designed to help the IRB's rugby committee finalise their own list of ELV recommendations.

It would be a major surprise if the rugby committee disagreed with any of the conference's conclusions when they meet in Dublin on April 27.