International RLIF ban the shoulder charge in int'l comps

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Leeds will have to modify their tackling technique in Friday's World Club Challenge againstMelbourne Stormafter the game's international authorities signalled their intention to follow the Australasian example by banning the shoulder charge.

Such tackles, where the defending player hits with his shoulder without making any attempt to wrap up the ball carrier with his arms, have remained legal in the Super League this season. But a meeting of the International Federation on Monday night was expected to accept a proposal from Australia and New Zealand to make shoulder charges illegal under the code's international laws.
That would apply to Friday's Challenge at Headingley and also to the World Cup in the UK and Europe later this year, leaving the Rugby Football League to decide whether its domestic competitions – the Super League and the Championship – should remain the last bastion of the shoulder charge for the rest of this season.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/18/leeds-rhinos-shoulder-charge-melbourne-storm

Wow. At least Super League still has them. Though the RFL has the unenviable choice of either banning them a few rounds into the season or keeping them legal and having the UK based players in the WC at the end of the year needing to change their tackling technique in a matter of weeks...

The shoulder charge is a huge part of rugby league and it has been banned with no regard to what the fans or players want worldwide in a few months. What a joke...

 

[Northern_Union]

Complete farse. One of the key points that set league apart from similar codes is that it is a collision sport, not a contact sport. The players and fans want the shoulder charge. The PC brigade want to get rid of it. Leave the game alone.

 

[robbieando]

I've seen one penalty given under the new rule and its a joke of a rule. Sure the idea is nobel to attempt the head as some shoulder charges have effected but having seen the rule in effect its going to effect the game more than even the critics think in terms of gameflow.

I would rather a rule introduced where if a player charged off the line to lay a "shoulder charge" and made contact with the head he would be sent from the field for 10 minutes regardless of impact and in the high level head contacts a straight sending off. But ONLY if there is contact to the head. Would solve the issue quicker.

 

[Northern_Union]

The thing is if they are so concerned with protecting the head what about when the ball carrier drops a hip into a tackler and makes contact with the head and knocks the tackler out. Is that to be banned as well or is that ok?