There is a defence of the act being part of a lawful sport. As there has been a long history of biff in RL any half decent brief could argue that a bit of handbags is a part of the game and as such doesn't even always result in a sin binning.

Not much danger of anyone in my team being charged then.

I'd disagree it's part of the laws and spirit of the game so any player taking the pitch agreed to get tackled like a boxer agrees to get punched as a boxer is punched in the ring it is not an assault. So an assault is a crime and tackling isn't so hence no crime no assault.

It's a hard one pro can lose income through fines etc. So it should not be assault and lets protect the biff. Amateur is different no cameras to review no big fines for players and banning them won't really do much. But if you stamp kick or cheap shot an opponent in amateur you risk him losing time at work and you should cover that cost

So if scrapping in sport is technically assault, where does this leave boxing, judo, karate, MMA, Tae Kwon Do, Wrestling (well ... maybe not wrestling)?

I've seen the police get involved in stopping a brawl once, when Leeds played Widnes way back in the 80s. That was because the fight spread to the touchline and there was a danger of spectators getting accidentally hurt. No problem with that at all.

Also, I think everyone can distinguish between a 'bit of biff' involving a degree of intent from both sides, and blatant thuggery - cheap shots when someone's on the ground for example, or elbows to the head of someone unable to defend themselves (Moriarty on Hugh Waddell springs to mind, and IIRC Waddell seriously thought about suing for that one). If a player got seriously injured from the former, I'd say hard luck, from the latter I'd have no problem if they wanted to press charges, as I don't care what anyone says, there is no room for out-and-out thugery in the game.