The RFL have followed the RLIF's line, who voted 10/2 for the banning of shoulder charges.

There are probably more injuries from a swinging arm and reckless/careless tackling than through a shoulder charge but these seem to have been ignored in the hysteria around the shoulder charge.
Head injuries are a concern but this could have been dealt with by the disciplinary panels having a stronger stance on attacks to the head with tariff at say a minimum 2 matches as a starting point and rising to 8+ matches according to severity of offence for ANY head/high tackle whatever the technique. This would have consequences for tacklers who continually hit high and I'm pretty sure that coaches would soon be addressing technique if they keep losing players to lengthy bans and would also welcome the extra protection it offers their own playmakers.

Poor decision but the Leeds Rhinos club and fans cried about it after Chase's hit on Hardaker so action was therefore deemed necessary.

Precisely.

A shoulder charge done well is a stirring sight that lifts teams and supporters. A big but mostly harmless body-to-body collision that's impressive to see but mostly does more harm to someone's pride than physical being.

What they're penalising is players putting shoulders into heads. That's SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. That's a reckless tackle/collision that can be avoided - just like when players put forearms, elbows, etc into heads. You're correct: harsher penalties for those offences would be the better option, with a video sent round the clubs showing the type of tackle that is now strictly outlawed. After a few 8-game bans players would soon be more picky about when they dipped the shoulder for a big shot.

I'm still fuming, and I blame the media for blowing this issue out of all proportion and the NRL/RLIF/RFL authorities or actually paying attention to them and ordering independent bodies to carry out risk assessments. OF COURSE they're going to find more risk in the biggest shots - and in other stunning news, bears sh*t in woods. So, all you RL journos who jumped on the bandwagon for a good story, I hope you're proud of yourselves. You've helped kill one of the best sights in RL, a well-executed shoulder charge.

So they ban shoulders for the (very) occasional shoulder-to-head. Should we also ban arms in the tackle for the occasional clothes-line?

Said in a recent blog post that they shouldn't ban the shoulder, but I do understand that player welfare is of prime importance.

The RFL always seem to ask the players and coaches for their opinion on things but don't appear to have this time as most of the players both here and the NRL are against the idea.

The game is already under massive pressure and if we take away the physicality on which we pride ourselves (see the Bradley Wiggins advert) then we're in even more trouble.

Really disapointed its been banned. Should have let the players have a say in the matter.

Then they should of had some stones and banned Chase for 10-12 games.
Maybe then the message would have got across that that is unacceptable.

I played amateur RL at prop forward and at 5'7 I was obviously smaller in height that most of the other props. The shoulder charge was my go too big shot as I obviously couldn't BOOM somebody else any other way.
Shame.

Weak RFL management, taking the biff out of rugby, might as well watch netball !

Wouldn't go that far

It had to be banned based both on the evidence and the fact that players seemed unable to do it properly. Anyone who claims to be "fuming" about the loss of this area of marginal importance to the sport of Rugby League needs to reconsider their grasp on reality.

What evidence? None has been given!

It's nothing but a knee-jerk reaction to a handful of high-profile reckless challenges - starting with the Inglis hit last year and being blown out of all reasonable proportion by a weak and pathetic media, most of whom have never played.

If it's so dangerous show me all those players who've been killed by, been disabled by, had their careers ended by or been permanently injured by, a shoulder charge. Can you? And the consider how many have suffered all of the above from other challenges - legal or otherwise.

As for 'reality' - the reality is they've removed even the possibility of one of the most dramatic sights and uplifting sights in the game. The reality is that we've had it for 113 years without anyone's career being ended by a shoulder charge. The reality is if we're banning shoulders because some are high, we should ban arms as some of those are also high. The reality is almost without exception players agree with me, most fans agree with me and rlSL coaches agree with merl.

The reality is RL has just become even more repetitive and that little bit more dull.

Luke Burgess? Maurie Fa'asavalu? Any concussion is a serious injury, with the potential for it to be life threatening, repeated concussions will bring about serious health problems. The game has to show that when contact with the head is made it is unacceptable. Completely so.

There are two options, either the shoulder charge is banned and everyone is punished or we see 10-15 game bans for those that do make contact with the head.

would the game be accepting of Rangi Chase missing a third of the year and Bousquet probably half the year?

I'd have kept it personally.

Hits like the one from Tommy Leuluai on Maurie Faasavalu are fantastic.