World Rugby have just rushed through a new Law change with 'immediate effect'

World Rugby’s Council has proclaimed a law change that is to be applied immediately.

The Change concerns Law 9 in the new, 2018, edition of the Laws of the Game. World Rugby’s proclamation reads:

Acting in accordance with the Bye-Laws and on behalf of Council the World, Rugby Executive Committee have agreed to create a new Law 9.19 for implementation with Immediate effect:

Acting in accordance with the Bye-Laws and on behalf of Council the World Rugby Executive Committee have agreed to create a new Law 9.19 for implementation with Immediate effect:

Law 9.19 In open play, any player may lift or support a player from the same team. Players who support or lift a teammate must lower the player to the ground safely as soon as the ball is won by a player of either team.

Sanction: Free-kick

Please note that existing laws 9.19 to 9.25 will be renumbered as laws 9.20 to 9.26.

The renumbered laws deal with dangerous play at the scrum (Law 9.20), dangerous play in a ruck or maul (Law 9.21), retaliation (Law 9.22), the ‘cavalry charge’ and the ‘flying wedge’ (Law 9.23), kicking the ball out of the hands of a ball-carrier (Law 9.24) and the hand-off (Law 9.25).