The maul is set to continue as an integral part of rugby union after an International Rugby Board (IRB) conference rejected a controversial rule that could have led to its extinction.

Delegates discussed the impact of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) being trialled around the world and recommended that 10 of them should become law when the IRB's full council meets in Dublin on 13 May.

However, the two most controversial ELVS, allowing the maul to be pulled down and sanctions regarding free kicks, were not ratified. The maul, the traditional strength of northern hemisphere countries especially England, has virtually disappeared from the game since the ELVs began in August last year.

The idea of each team determining the number of players in line-outs was also rejected and the sanctions ELV which caused most offences to be penalised with free kicks is to be reviewed.

One of the ELVs recommended to become law is the 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.