ELV cornerpost
The SANZAR countries have left the cornerpost where it was but depowered it somewhat for the Experimental Law Variations to be introduced into the Super 14 in February.
No longer will the cornerpost determine whether a player is in touch-in-goal or not. Sad for the poor old cornerpost. It has ruled that bit of ground for over a century. In 1896 the laws stated: The corner posts and flags are in Touch-in-goal.
In 1931 it was stated that the ball was dead:
When, not being in the possession of a player, the ball touches a corner post and when a player in obsession of the ball touches a corner post.
It could have been even more humiliating for the cornerpost. There was the suggestion that it be moved two metres back from the junction of touch-line and goal-line. But suddenly these iconoclasts realised that there was a function for the cornerpost after all. Otherwise how would a plodding touch judge determine which side of that junction of touch-line, goal-line and touch-in-goal line determine whether the ball had gone out in touch-in-goal or just in touch.
Law 22 deals with in-goal. It would probably need a new section to deal with the alter role of the corner post and look something like this:
22.12 BALL OR PLAYER TOUCHING A FLAG OR FLAG POST
(a) If a player carrying the ball touches a flag or a flag post at the intersection of the touch-in-goal line and the goal-line, without otherwise being in touch or touch-in-goal, the ball is not out of play.
(b) If the ball, not being carried by a player, strikes the cornerpost it shall be regarded as being in touch-in-goal and therefore dead.
