Quote: Ferocious Aardvark "I think that what is needed here is some definition of exactly WTF they mean by a "shoulder charge" which is banned.
There is a good short article rl hererl by the great Darren Lockyer. He agrees that shoulder charges - as HE defines them - should be banned because too many end up with a contact with the head. But he is equally adamant that "big hits" should NOT be banned - he quotes Chris Close
"big hits front on with arms down ... that's what brings them through the gate. Leave the game as is".
If they restrict the ban to strictly no cannonball-style shoulder dives then fine, if the legitimate big hit as described here is left alone. If we lose the big hit, we lose a central part of the game.'"
Its only been a central part of the game fairly recently.
Never liked them. There's usually an element of a cheap shot about them. The ball carrier is often looking to the side, off balance, or doesn't have the chance to brace himself, get out of the way, or respond in kind.