Rugby union’s controversial new law changes will be trialled globally from grassroots to Test level for 12 months from 1 August.

Thirteen of the 23 Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) in use in the southern hemisphere will be introduced.

Players will now be able to defend a maul by pulling it down and there will be no restriction on the number of players in a lineout.

Some other ELVs will be trialled in an unnamed northern hemisphere event.

A further seven ELVs have been referred back to the International Rugby Board’s laws group for more analysis.

The ELVs were partially trialled by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in this year’s Super 14, but some northern hemisphere unions have expressed reservations.

Last week, English Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron said: “We have concerns about the ELVs and the proposed process for their introduction.”
 
But International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset insisted the changes are essential, adding: “(They are) an important milestone for the future of the game.”

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Changes to be trialled worldwide include:
Players can defend a maul by pulling it down.

Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum.

No restriction on the number of players who can participate in the lineout from either side (minimum of two).

The receiver in a lineout must stand two metres back from the lineout.

Flags are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post.

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Further ELVs to be trialled in an elite northern hemisphere competition, expected to be the European Challenge Cup, include:
For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10 - Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.

If the ball is unplayable at the breakdown, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a free kick.

If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free kick.

Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards believes it could be time for the Six Nations to adopt bonus points to fall in line with other tournaments.
 
Edwards argues that giving teams bonus points to chase encourages adventure.

“It could be time to tinker with the format of the Six Nations,” Edwards wrote in the Guardian.

“If bonus points were awarded for four tries and those bonus points helped settle the title, there would be no argument against a bit of adventure.”

Edwards, who is also the head coach of Wasps, says that the bonus point system has improved every competition that has adopted it.
“In every other tournament, the World Cup included, bonus points are awarded - one for scoring four tries and one for a losing side which keeps the gap down to seven points. The Six Nations gives two points for a win, one for a draw - and that’s that,” Edwards added.

Edwards points out that since 1994 the Six Nations title is decided on points difference if two or more teams finish on the same match points. Before that year the title was shared by tied teams.

The former rugby league great argues that system encourages teams to play safe even if they have a comfortable lead in a match, with penalties more likely to be taken as ’safer’ kicks at goal to pad the winning margin rather than going for more tries.

“Say a team has scored a couple of tries and has a reasonable lead when, with 10 minutes to go, it is awarded a kickable penalty,” Edwards said.

“The captain will signal to the posts, because he wants to widen the margin of victory. There’s no argument with that.

“But if bonus points were awarded… the win is safe, so hoof the ball into the corner, win the line-out, drive the rolling maul over the goal line and, with eight or nine minutes to go, there is still time to think about a fourth try.

“The spectacle would be improved, as it would if the opposition had the extra incentive of clawing its way back to within seven points.

“Every Saturday bonus points add to the spice of the Guinness Premiership. Perhaps it could be time for the Six Nations to give them a go.”

Saracens and England flanker Richard Hill will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season.
 
The 34-year-old World Cup winner has spent his entire first-class career at Sarries, having made his debut in 1993 when the game was still amateur.

Hill, who won 71 England caps and went on three British and Irish Lions tours, has overcome serious knee injuries.

“I want to see what opportunities are out there but I doubt I’ll be able to just walk away from rugby,” he said.

“I’ve been chatting to a number of people and organisations to get advice to try to prepare myself for the future as best I can, and that has included some very pro-active talks with Saracens about a role with the club.”

Hill made his decision after consulting the club’s medical staff - but he hopes to bow out on a high note.
“We agreed it was probably time to give up and we set out a goal of playing a reduced number of games over this season and I’m well on course to hit that,” he said.

“We’ve come to an important part of the season at Saracens and all my attentions will now be focused on that.

“We’ve not achieved anything yet, but we’ve put ourselves in a good position in all three competitions and the opportunity is there for the club to enjoy a good season - that’s something that we all want.”
England coach Brian Ashton was quick to pay his tribute to Hill.

“His contribution to England has been a massive one from when he made his international debut against Scotland in 1997 through to his last cap against Australia in 2004,” he said.

“But for injuries in the last three years, I’m sure there would have been more caps, and like many people I admired the way he came back from two long-term injuries to play again for Saracens.

“Richard personifies for me everything that is good about a professional rugby player and I would like, on behalf of the England squad, to wish him every success with whatever he decides to do in the future.”

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery and Wasps number two Raphael Ibanez are major concerns for Saturday’s crunch Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park.The duo have been cited for alleged stamping but event organisers European Rugby Cup would not confirm when the disciplinary hearings will take place.

Flannery must answer a charge after an incident involving Clermont back-rower Julien Bonnaire on Sunday.

And Ibanez is cited after a clash with Scarlets flanker Simon Easterby.

Both players are free to play until the hearings are held.

The eagerly-anticipated contest at Thomond Park is a massive game for both clubs with the winner sealing a place in the quarter-finals.

Wales rugby centre Gavin Henson will not face court action over alleged rowdy antics on a train, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.
 
Henson, 25, had been due to appear before Cardiff magistrates accused of disorderly conduct.

Proceedings are still ongoing against three of Henson’s friends relating to the alleged incident, said the CPS.

Henson said he was “delighted” over the dropped charges but added he was never in doubt he would be vindicated.

In a statement released on Friday, the CPS said there was “insufficient evidence” to provide a realistic prospect of conviction in the case against Henson.

The allegations against Henson and three friends were made on Sunday, 2 December, when he was returning from a game which saw his team, the Ospreys, beat Harlequins.

The men still facing prosecution are Jamie Mark Griffiths, 26, David Norman, 33, both from Bridgend, and Matthew Rhys Williams, 25, from Wick, Vale of Glamorgan.

They are due to appear before Cardiff magistrates on 14 January for offences contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

The CPS statement said it had carefully considered available information from British Transport Police and the defence solicitors Graham Evans & Partners before deciding to discontinue the case.

The case was also referred to chief crown prosecutor for south Wales Chris Woolley, who agreed with the decision.

Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy said the decision came as no surprise to the club which had already carried out its own internal investigation.

“We were in no doubt whatsoever that Gavin would not face any form of action,” he said.
“We’re satisfied that this is now the end of the matter and we hope that people will now get behind him and the team as they prepare for a crucial week on the pitch.”

Henson said he was looking forward to being able to concentrate solely on rugby.

“I’m delighted that all the charges against me have been dropped,” he said.

“Whilst it is always very difficult to read and hear things about yourself that aren’t true, I never had any doubt that I would be vindicated.

“The decision by the CPS to drop all charges ahead of my scheduled court appearance next week has saved everybody a lot of unnecessary inconvenience.”

Henson’s partner, singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church, had their first child, Ruby, in September.