The power of the maul has been preserved by key rugby officials discussing the sport's experimental law variations (ELVs).

The ELVs, which are designed to speed up play, have been on global trial since August 1 after being tested in the southern hemisphere's Super 14.

The International Rugby Board conference in London recommended on Tuesday that the law allowing mauls to be pulled down should be thrown out, while the rule allowing teams to select as many players as they want in the lineout was also rejected.

Plans to penalise most offences with a free-kick, currently being tested in the southern hemisphere, will be further reviewed.

The ELV recommendations approved to assist the IRB rugby committee in formulating its final recommendations for the IRB Council meeting on May 13 include:

- A five-metre offside line at the scrum.

- A pass-back rule, which prevents players from making any ground with a kick to touch if the ball has been played back into their own 22.

- Allowing lifting in the lineout.

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