HONG KONG — International rugby's ruling body has confirmed that the sport's so-called Experimental Law Variations will go on global trial from Aug. 1.

The ELVs, which are designed to speed up play, were tested out in the southern hemisphere's Super 14 competition this year and the International Rugby Board said Wednesday that it was pressing ahead with further trials.

The IRB said it was determined to get a single set of laws agreed upon as soon as possible, so its Rugby Committee will meet in the first quarter of next year to discuss the results before making a recommendation to the lawmaking Council on whether the changes should be adopted.

Statistics from the Super 14 season, which ended in May, showed there were more tries, fewer lineouts, fewer penalties kicked and more times in play for the ball.

There were roughly the same number of scrums, more mauls and many more free kicks.

The new rules appear to have reduced the contest for possession by allowing few breakdowns to run their course, but opened attacking possibilities from free kicks and scrums.