The RFL Laws Committee has elected not to outlaw shoulder charges until the Rugby League International Federation concludes its own consultation on the use of the technique. The NRL has banned the shoulder charge from 2013 but the technique remains legal under International Rules and will continue to be allowed in all RFL-run competitions. READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

The RFL Laws Committee has elected not to outlaw shoulder charges until the Rugby League International Federation concludes its own consultation on the use of the technique. The NRL has banned the shoulder charge from 2013 but the technique remains legal under International Rules and will continue to be allowed in all RFL-run competitions. READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

Thank god! Although sounds like it will be banned in the future when the RLIF ban it

Good call in my opinion. I'd love to see statistics of when injuries occur in the collision and whether shoulder charges actually do result in injury often.

Yippee, tell the NRL to gt flicked.

Why are we even having to bother with looking in to this? Just because the aussies introduce something to their domestic game we have to? I'm delighted this has been put off, for now. Here's hoping we don't concede down the line. A shoulder charge is fine by me, we are not playing tiddlywinks.

Only a matter of time.

The RLIF effectively is the ARL, so if they want it banned it will be.

and if the RLIF ban the shoulder charge could SLE not bring in a local rue allowing it? you know, like the aussies do when they want a rule change that no one else wants

keep the shoulder charge, there is nothing wrong with it whatsoever.

All this bravado is fine, but what's the reality? In an interview with Radio Leeds a couple of weeks ago, John Kear explained that the danger to the players, whether they like it or not, is too great for it to be allowed to stay in place. He was firmly in agreement with it being outlawed. The ban will come to the UK eventually.

One man does not equate with the whole of the rugby league world. I don't think it will be banned here. In fact, I don't think the ban in the NRL will last.

But it has been statistically proven it is not dangerous. It makes up such a small percentage of injuries. Players can get seriously injured from been lifted up in the tackle.. Should we ban this as well?

There is an inherent danger in rugby league as a whole. To attempt to remove it would be to sanitise or even kill off the game totally. It's a contact sport, there is always a risk. Don't like it? Take up golf.

The point being that if the shoulder charge is not done correctly it can be extremely dangerous, and quite often it is down to a subjective ' guess ' by the ref as to wether the person was deliberatly attempting to injure, or it was accidental

If they decide to retain it, then it must be made clear any ' accidents ' will not be tolerated and will be severely punished

What will be very interesting is how the ban unfolds in the NRL. How will it be interpreted & policed by the refs and players/coaches?

Players are not supposed to be lifted at the moment. As soon as one foot is off the ground the ref is supposed to call held.
Very few injuries arise from high tackles too, it doesn't mean high tackles should be legal.

Personally, I wouldn't ban it but make it very clear that if you get a shoulder charge even slightly wrong by accident it's a straight red card. If you want to make a shoulder charge you're going to have to make sure that there'll be no contact with the head or you'll be spending a long time on the sidelines.

Going to be a mess with good tough tackles penalised. Expect to hear a lot of fan whinging this season.

This - nothing more complicated is required.

Personally, I'm in favour of a ban up to open age level. Teach kids the disciplines of tackling properly rather than looking for the big shot.

Once you get to open age however, allow the shoulder charge by all means but make sure that any contact with the head is appropriately punished.

I'd ban it at all levels except for SL and Championships. I don't think it has a place within the amateur game.

and why doesn't it have a place in the amateur game? i've played OA rugby for 18 years and seen and done plenty of shoulder charge tackles. there are far worse things that go on in the amateur game that cause more injuries that could be more effectively dealt with by the powers that be.

Because the amateur game is not supposed to be a platform for stupid thugs to go around trying to look hard, proving how tough they are, and pretending they're playing at Wembley and not at a working men's club on top of a hill. Sadly that's what it currently is which is why no sod plays it.

Out of interest, which currently legal tackles/tactics/techniques are used in the amateur game that cause more injuries or the potential for them?

shouldn't be banned. There should, however, be an absolute burden on the tackler to carry out the tackle in a safe way. Contact with the head, deliberate or accidental, should be a straight red card. Prioritise clean & safe tackling rather then reckless and dangerous big hits.

the amateur game is a stepping stone to the pro game. so why ban something in the amateur game and then allow those players to use it in the pro game should they make it there?

and i never said there are legal tackles/tactics/techniques that cause more injuries. i said there are far worse things that go on in the amateur game that need to be cracked down on more effectively e.g head highs, punching, stamping and even deliberate attacks to the groin area. all off these i've been on the receiving end of, and i'd rather take a shoulder charge any day of the week, especially compared to the last one. i think if these things were cracked down on, as well as the general thugs you talk about, it may go some way to solving the problem of participation levels

Yes but its only when you play Queens though

unfortunately not

What I meant was you might get all those things individually when you play other clubs , but you can guarantee you'll get ALL those things ( plus lots of others, like scratching and goughing of the face ) when you play them, and have to put up with their moronic supporters as well