World Rugby has introduced changes to two tackling techniques in preparation for the European Cups, with different dates for implementation. The hip drop tackle has been added to **law 9.13**, which governs dangerous play, while the knee drop tackle is already covered by an existing rule. The hip drop tackle involves a player using their body weight to bring down the ball carrier and then falling onto their legs from behind, particularly during a chasing tackle. This new rule will take effect with a minimum penalty starting November 1. The decision follows a review process that began in February as part of the Shape of the Game initiative, supported by research from the University of Leeds Beckett and a group of experts. Brett Robinson, president of World Rugby, noted that while the hip drop tackle is rare, it can cause serious leg injuries. According to Rugbyrama, an exception exists if the tackler falls far enough away from the legs of the tackled player, making the action non-penalizable. The knee drop tackle, where the tackler places one or both knees on the ground before making contact, has already been banned under existing rules. World Rugby has confirmed that this rule applies starting this weekend. To ensure consistent refereeing, the organization released a guide on October 5. The guide states that a tackler is penalizable if they deliberately place one or both knees on the ground before impact, but not after impact. At Canal Rugby Club, Fabien Galthié expressed regret over an injury to Emmanuel Meafou caused by a ground knee tackle. He noted that the flanker from Vannes, Nick Schonert, had not closed the arm during the action. Mathieu Raynal, from the high-performance refereeing cell, expressed surprise at the timing of the new rules, saying any new rule should be implemented during the international window in July. He praised the intention to protect players but considered the hip drop tackle a form of dangerous play. Raynal plans to request clarifications from World Rugby. He highlighted two points for clarification: the procedure to follow regarding the hip drop tackle until November 1 and the scale of sanctions, as the framework provided so far is not sufficiently precise. Regarding the knee drop tackle, Raynal viewed the formalization positively, noting that in France, referees have been penalizing this tackle for over two and a half years, meaning the new rule does not change much for French refereeing.