The South African Rugby Union (Saru) wants next year’s Sanzar
competitions played under the global experimental law variations (ELVs).
The matter will be discussed at a Sanzar executive committee meeting in Sydney on October 15.
Their
Sanzar partners Australia and New Zealand have expressed a desire to
continue playing under the hybrid ELVs that applied in this year’s
Tri-Nations series.
The major difference between the two sets is
the hybrid ELVs award free kicks for offences that are generally
penalties under the global ELVs.
“We are playing the Currie Cup
under the global ELVs, we will play the Springboks end-of-year tour
matches under the global ELVs and, most importantly, we will play the
British and Irish Lions under the global ELVs next year,” Saru
president Oregan Hoskins told SuperSport website.
“Australia and New Zealand will also be playing their internationals under the global ELVs this year and next.
“For
consistency’s sake and to allow our Springboks the smoothest possible
preparations for next year’s crucial series against the Lions it is
vital we play under one set of laws.”
The global ELVs came into operation on August 1 and will run to the end of July in 2009.
The
International Rugby Board is meeting early next year to review the laws
experiments and will decide what set of laws the game will play under
from August 1, 2009.
“We went with the hybrid ELVs for this
year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations for the sake of consistency after playing
them in the Super 14,” Hoskins said.
“For the sake of consistency we must now join with the rest of the IRB in playing the global ELVs.
“I
trust we will be able to reach a consensus with our partners when we
meet but if that is not possible then we may have to go to arbitration
on the matter.”
NZPA
