David Pickering says there is concern about too many changes

Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering has rejected claims that world rugby faces being split in half over new rule changes.

Australia chief executive John O'Neill says if northern countries refuse experimental law variations rugby will be played under different rules.

But Mr Pickering said: "It's unrealistic.

"We adopted some 13 of the ELVs and the comments put out are inaccurate at best and unhelpful as well."

On 1 August, 13 of the 23 ELVs are due to come into force across the world as a year-long trial.

But O'Neill said world rugby faced being split in half because the Welsh, English and Irish rugby unions had not adopted all of the rules.

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"Our market place has seen and likes ELVs, but they are saying theirs have never seen them but don't like them," said O'Neill.

The most controversial law involves replacing penalties with free kicks for all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and foul play.

But Pickering said northern hemisphere sides were concerned it could see the game become too much like rugby league.

"There was never any guarantee given that the unpopular ELVs would be trialled because that's not within our power," he said.

"The sanction in many people's eyes turn into a game of rugby league and people do not want to change the nature of the game to that extent."

There are also worries that the southern hemisphere sides are trying to push the ELVs because it suits their game better.

They have already been tried in the last two tri-nations matches and some of them have been used in the Super 14.

But former Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett said O'Neill's claims had come because rugby is currently regarded as Australia's fourth sport.

He said: "John is desperate to try and get some sort of interest for rugby.

"He believes he can do that by making rugby less authentic than it should be and changing the laws of the game.

"I am in favour of some of the ELVs but there are others that the Australian Rugby Union would like to impose on the rest of world rugby."