With the news today that the NRL have BANNED a good old fashioned [ishoulder charge[/i, do you think RL is going soft?

It seems the news this morning hasn't been welcomed by most pro RL players both over here and in Aus.

Thoughts?

I wish the NRL had banned it a few years ago. Then we could tw£t em under international rules in the world cup.

A move to keep prized assets SBW and Sam Burgess on the field and out of the treatment room?

Reducing the number of interchanges seems to be a better option, and appears to be more popular with some of the players.

I smashed my collar bone by poorly executing a shoulder charge, and am as a result fully aware of the dangers they pose, both to the tackler and the attacker. However, I think they should very much remain part of the game. They provide a great collision, and can really gear a player, team or crowd up. No one has to use them, and I don't think they are any more dangerous to the ball carrier than a normal tackle. They do represent poor technique, and often result in a missed tackle, but I think they have a big part in a game.

I agree, I'd be tempted to ban them at amateur level though.

When you see the likes of L.Burgess get their faces caved in there's a big call to ban it but on the flip side when executed correctly some huge hits occur and can change the momentum of the game.
For me i'd keep it but with severe sanctions for ones that are mis-timed and hit high.

trying to fix a to a problem that isn't there imo. half the tackles in the nrl that got so much publicity last year weren't (out n out) shoulder charges anyway, they were just very bad tackles.

its also going to be a nightmare to ref; union has a clear ban on no arm tackles, this is asking the ref to judge a type of tackle & the intention of the tackle - the difference between a body check & a shoulder charge (in the terms of what they're trying to ban) are millimetres and are affected by the attacker himself & other defences involved.

sticking with big penalties for contact to the head is the easiest and best solution.

Yep, you get it wrong, even by accident, expect to be sent off.

I've never been a massive fan of the shoulder charge but I can see this being a nightmare to officiate

Sums it up for me. I don't like a certain version of it but what will be classed as a shoulder charge? A tackle without arms? That would rule out so many perfectly safe hits.
Prepare for meltdown at the disciplinary board and 15 "on reports" a game.

Awful decision. This is what makes Rugby League, Rugby League. Players will continue to do it regardless of the rules. Chris Ashton and Sonny Bill still do it in Union and i'm sure especially in the NRL players will continue to do it. All the best highlight videos show massive shoulder charges.

Aussie softcocks