Perfect summation.

For mine, I'd have let Crabtree go a bit further in his "retribution" and that's all. It's not worthy of a ban, but it probably is worthy of a few punches...

I think I'm right in saying that when something similar happened in the NFL the league ruled that hair counted as part of the players kit, so it was fair game.

Simple solution - Get a proper haircut!

Yup. Troy Polamanu(sp). His hair was so long it ran down the back of his shirt. He got tackled to the ground quite viciously by his hair.

The league said as the hair was covering his jersey (where he could be legally grabbed) than tackling by the hair was OK.

Like yo say, get a proper 'aircut lad!

I remember Vainikolo getting plenty of hair pulled when he sported his dafter hairdos but there was no hysteria then and it happened on a weekly basis.

If you're going to have long hair this sort of thing is likely to happen occasionally. IMO it's a penalty offence but that's it.

I suppose the argument would be is that it's not illegal to pull a player's collar to stop him, so if his hair is obstructing that then what's the problem? Basically, the same as Gareth's NFL example above.

This must explain why Sean Long's hair appears to have never been washed. It's to put people off touching it.

Yeah, I wouldn't argue with that. I note it was Gareth's idea and he stands no risk whatsoever of being pulled anywhere by his hair on a rugby field.

[sizeUnless he grows that porn tache again[/size

I could grow one of these...

Grow what? a bald skunk?

Growing skunk get get one in very serious trouble.

There's that colour again.

I just don't see that as a sending off offence in rugby league.

I would doubt even a fully tooled up SO19 squad wouldnt go into a house where someone was cultivating "Hair-piece" skunks.

Could be on to a winner G.

Well I agree, it is a yellow offence all the way for me and not Red, I agree this is not netball and I understand your point! But I am concerned that not punishing what was clear and deliberate pulling of hair (no matter how girlie the haircut) is inviting a potential problem that we don't currently have.

I know a few people are saying if you have long hair and it gets grabbed as part of what would otherwise be a legitimate tackle then fairs, fair and I agree, but he used his hair to deliberately effect a tackle. Sucker play and as it was no punished at the time by a yellow card he needs to get a one match ban... just one mind, or a large fine, if we are to maintain the integrity and spirit of the game. Well that is what I think!