2025 started with some news with regards to the rules of polo. The United States Polo Association (USPA) added a new rule, that was quite controversial at first – it was not known whether this rule would be able to make the game quicker or slower. But, at the end of the day, the so-called “blocking rule” worked very well during the season in the United States. So, in the meantime, England was carefully watching, wondering whether they could add this new rule to those on their own.

Finally, and after discussion during a meeting of the Rules Committee of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), and in consultation with various stakeholders, it was decided to introduce an update to Part 1 Rule 32 Impeding the Primary (formely Blocking), which will take effect during the upcoming 2025 season in England.

The update is available in the 2025 Blue Book of the Hurlingham Polo Association, as follows:

Rule 32: IMPEDING THE PRIMARY

a. After a break in the play: When play is resumed with a hit after a break in play, it is not permitted for any member of the team taking the hit to ride off or impede the primary opponent attempting to make the play on the hitter. The primary opponent must make themselves clearly identifiable to the umpires by raising their stick before the ball is in play. If the ball is then left for the teammate following, the player leaving it may then not ride off or impede an opponent in that phase of play.

b. All other times: When a player in possession of the ball either stops or reduces to a slow canter of walk, no teammate of the player in possession of the ball may ride off, impede or block an opposing player who is within two horse lengths of the player in possession ball from making a play on the player on the ball. If the foul is blown but subsequently not upheld, the team in possession of the ball when the ball was called shall be awarded a Fair Play dropped ball.