Rugby runs the risk of being split into two separate games unless the impasse between the two hemispheres over the Experimental Law Variations is resolved by early next year, according to Australian chief John O'Neill.

The ELVs have been trialled extensively in Australia over the past 12 months, but have been regarded with suspicion by the leading northern hemisphere nations.

Although the north will trial some from next month, they have frustrated O'Neill further by refusing to use the sanctions which have been widely credited for making the game in Australia a better spectacle.

Under the ELVs, short-arm rather than full penalties are awarded for all but a handful of offences and have led to the ball staying in play more.

O'Neill conceded it could be confusing for the public with different sets of the ELVs used in club rugby, the Australian Rugby Championship, Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments over the last 12 months.

"Where were up to today is a risk that we end up with two games, with two different sets of laws," O'Neill said.

"It's not sustainable to do what we're doing this year which is play under four different sets of laws."

He said decisions would need to be made by the end of 2009 if any of the ELVs were to be used in the 2011 World cup.

The IRB faced a tremendous test of leadership in staring down England, Wales and Ireland and forcing them to find competitions in which to trial the sanctions.

"They are looking to have a universal game with one set of laws at the earliest opportunity. It's impossible to have a consistent and common dialogue about the new laws unless we have all trialled the new laws, including the sanctions.

"One would hope the IRB can find a way through this impasse, so that by early next year we are in a position to agree on what works and what doesn't work.'

O'Neill said it was important to involve people like Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and ARU high performance manager David Nucifora, rather than administrators.

"The blazer gang shouldn't be involved in determining the laws of the game, they should be determined by the people who are absolute practitioners and live and die on the technical side of rugby," O'Neill said.

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