The clarification forms part of World Rugby's ongoing commitment to player welfare and follows extensive research and analysis into tackle techniques that have the potential to cause serious injury.
A "knee drop" tackle occurs when a player drops to one or both knees before making a tackle. While this is already covered under existing laws that prohibit a player from making a tackle while on the ground, World Rugby has issued a Law Application Guideline to provide greater clarity for players, coaches and match officials on how the law should be applied. The guidance came into effect on 5 October.
The move follows recommendations from a World Rugby expert working group, which reviewed tackle techniques and commissioned research in partnership with Leeds Beckett University. The group concluded that greater clarity was needed around both knee drop and hip drop tackles to further enhance player safety.
Read the World Rugby guidance here.
Alongside the knee drop clarification, World Rugby has also confirmed that the "hip drop" tackle will be explicitly added to the laws of the game from 1 November. A hip drop tackle is defined as a tackle where a defender, grasping a ball carrier from the side or behind, uses their body weight to pull the player to ground and drops onto their legs or lower limbs. The offence will be sanctioned with at least a penalty kick.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said the changes were driven by player welfare concerns, with evidence showing that while hip drop tackles are relatively rare, they have the potential to cause significant leg injuries, while knee drop tackles had become increasingly common.
The IRFU will continue to work closely with clubs, schools, provinces, coaches, match officials and players to support understanding of the updated guidance and upcoming law change.
Additional educational resources, including examples and supporting material relating to the implementation of the hip drop tackle law change on 1 November, will be shared with the Irish rugby community in due course.
Player welfare remains a central pillar of the game, and these developments represent another step in rugby's ongoing efforts to make the sport as safe as possible at every level of participation.