Thing is the video referee specifically said it wasn't allowed for one player in the air to knock the ball out of the hands of the other player in the air whilst both, by his own acknowledgment, were legitimately challenging. The video referee's rationale was not that it was a forward pass (which he cannot adjudicate on) or a knock forward (which it wasn't, and he never claimed it was), nor was it a tackle in the air. I have this funny feeling that the specific rationale for the decision given by the video referee simply doesn't exist within the laws, that's what I'm actually curious about. I know we have people in this board who are more familiar with the laws than I am, so I'm genuinely interested to know if this is a real law or if it is an interpretation that isn't directly supported by the laws?

Sorry just cannot see contact with the head, back of shoulder and a whiplash affect but initial contact was not with the head, if this is the way its going to be from now on then fine, but I expect this to be a red every single week from now on, not let go next week when it happens again, but we all know, this will happen multiple times and the ref will not show a red.

Red card without question. Do what Fages did, and take it on the chin.

It was when the arm came round from the back of the shoulder it rode up into the head. So, yes, the initial contact appeared to be high on the shoulder, but ended up making contact with the head. The fact that most of the impact dissipated before the head, doesn't change that contact was late and ended up high. Had Fages being falling into the tackle that may have mitigated it, but he wasn't. Once upon a time it would have been a penalty or maybe a yellow, but sports simply cannot tolerate attacks on the head anymore.

At my son's RU training this morning I heard some coaches reminiscing with the older boys about what you could do in the old days, but would be an immediate red now, anywhere near the head and you're off!

Swinton doing great v Warrington, but a late 6 pointer from Wire, means the 20-8 HT score is rather flattering for them.

why would the panel think otherwise