2026-11 Law change - Hip drop tackles

Hip drop tackles – Law change in effect from 1 November 2026

Concern has been raised about rare actions in our game that are known as ‘hip drop tackles.’  They often lead to significant injuries to the ball carrier. 

World Rugby’s Tackle Working Group heard representations about this appearing in rugby union and considered that they have been banned in both American football and rugby league. 

The Tackle Working Group recommended explicitly banning the action in rugby union as well. As this relates to a player welfare issue, this was approved by the Executive Board on 28 September 2026. The below will be added to Law, and implemented, on 1 November 2026.

New Definition:

Hip-drop tackle: When a ball carrier…
- is grasped and tackled from the side or behind,and;
- the tackler swings round or through the ball carrier, and/or;
- drops their hips/body weight down on to the legs or lower limbs of the ball carrier as…
they are brought to ground.

Amended Law 9.13:

A player must not tackle an opponent early, late, or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent which leads to head contact; or tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the relevant sanction line while either player is in open field play; or a hip drop tackle.

*viewer discretion advised

Further work will be done ahead of 1 November in terms of match official decision-making and judicial sanctions. 

A presentation for use by Unions or referee organisations can be found (in English, French and Spanish) here: https://worldrugby.box.com/v/hipdroptackles