The proof will be in the pudding regarding the consistency of their rulings. HKR lose a player for virtually the full match, and probably next week, due to a Cas player having his forehead pressed against the HKR players forehead as they hit the ground, concussing the HKR player. Not even cited. How is that showing a duty of care to the opposing player? Surely that action is reckless in that there is a good chance it could cause injury and it is not within the laws, never mind the spirit, of the game. But hey-ho.

What about Albert Kelly missing a third of the season last year because an opposition player ran at him when he kicked the ball, making contact with his outstretched leg and causing an ACL strain. How is running at a player in the midst of kicking a ball, in no way able to defend himself, unable to manouvre out of the way, and at full pelt NOT reckless and liable to cause injury? A lot of what goes on in rugby is aimed at inflictiing pain on the opposition player. How can they cite 'duty of care' to the opposing player when they also admit it was unintentional??

First Utility Touch and Tag Rugby League... Doesn't have the same ring to it.

Nail on the head; and I share your suspicion of coaches and players. There is a mountain of evidence that tackle techniques are constantly evolving to 'win' the ruck, and the latest incarnation is the first man in going high and holding the attacker up, so that others can join one by one and chop him to pieces, turning him over in the process so he ends up on his back, with his head towards his own sticks - they then peel off one by one, which takes the longest possible time. That's considered a defensive 'win' from a coaching perspective, but I'm sure it's not what the rules intended.

I'm not at all in favour of removing collision or risk from the game - but I am in favour of removing the ability of coaches to play fast and loose with the rules to the detriment of player welfare and the spectacle.

Quick question re 'leg whip'.
Does anyone else hear Family Guy's Stewie's voice when they read it?
Leg hwhip. It's a leg hwhip, Brian.