World Rugby announced on Tuesday that tries can no longer be scored by placing the ball against the base of the post protector.
The amendment comes into effect immediately.
"The minor amendment to Law 8 was approved by the World Rugby Council during its special meeting held via teleconference today and follows a recommendation by the international federation's Rugby Committee and specialist Laws Review Group," World Rugby said in a statement.
With defending players currently legally obliged to stay behind the goal-line and post-protector shape and size increasing for welfare reasons, it is increasingly difficult for teams to legally defend this area.
In some extreme cases, post protectors have been lifted or moved by defending teams, leaving the posts exposed and therefore increasing the risk of injury.
The amended law will now read: The post protector is no longer an extension of the goal-line and therefore Law 8.2 (a) will read: A try is scored when the attacking player is first to ground the ball in the opponents’ in-goal.
As referenced in the World Rugby statement, players previously - like Edinburgh's Pierre Schoeman playing against Munster in the picture above - have lifted the padding in an attempt circumvent the laws of the game.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont added: "World Rugby’s mission is to make the game as simple, safe and enjoyable to play as possible. This law amendment reflects that mission.
"By stipulating that an attacking team can no longer score against the post protector and therefore must ground the ball in-goal, this gives defending teams a fair chance of preventing a try from being scored."
Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
