A perfectly executed shoulder charge is designed to bring your shoulder/upper arm into direct contact with the opposing players sternum.

At speed. By a player who could weigh over 100 kilos.

In case you don't know, your 'sternum' is your 'breast bone'... that bit that runs down the front of your body where your ribs are attached to.

The sternum is also the bit that is compressed whilst carrying out chest compressions to a person who has stopped breathing.

If a shoulder charge is carried out correctly it can be highly dangerous.

Not many are carried out correctly owing to poor technique or the person who is about to cop the tackle taking evasive action. This means the player can cop the shoulder charge to the jaw or other parts of the head resulting in even worse injuries.


Ban it now.

arent all tackles designed to get the shoulder/upper are into direct contact with the area around the sternum?

(except of course those which tackle around the legs)

I dont think it should be banned, its part and parcel, but anyone that cant see its dangerous is blind stupid. Most of these 'big hits' are illegal tackles if you look closely with almost always contact with the head/jaw

car racing is dangerous, bungee jumping is dangerous, being a jockey is dangerous etc

RL is a tough sport, lets not turn it into a sissy sport like union has

Its idiotic to suggest that union is a sissy sport.
I never claimed it shouldnt be dangerous, but I can see the alternate viewpoints re: the shoulder charge

One of the big draws to playing RL in the southwest (from talking to and training with guys) is that the ability to shoulder charge and "smash" people.

Shoulder charge is epic and we love it. What else will the health and safety brigade come up with next? oh wait i have a vision of an NFL type game played on a rubber crumb training pitch.

l would have thought the surgeon would be glad of the work

Are there any confirmed injuries to the sternum of the player making the shoulder charge? Most of the injuries I've seen from shoulder charges are either shoulder injuries to the player making the charge or head injuries to the ball carrier when it's done wrong.


I'd agree, I just don't think (when done correctly and carefully ie below the head) that it's significantly more dangerous than a very strong regular tackle.
The hit put in by SBW on Marcus Bai in the WCC is a good example of when it's done badly and should be penalised.
The hit by Morley on Jason King (I think it's Jason King IIRC) is a good example of it being done properly.

rlJason Kingrl? Surely too old to be playing on the same pitch as Mozza?

You are of course right again Jonny.

Silly of me to think that a 100 kilo bloke running at speed and then smashing his shoulder into someones sternum might cause them serious injury.

Next these crazy surgeons will be telling us that smoking can cause lung cancer and eating foods with a high level of saturated fat can cause the arteries to clog up leading to coronary heart disease.



I wonder what their take is on your theory that all international teams should play in red and white?

Cheers. My signature needed updating.

I'm glad i'm about 48th in the long list of people disagreeing with you.

Thank you for agreeing with me that shoulder charges can (and do) cause a lot of injuries, not just to the person who is being hit, but also to the person running in and carrying out this highly irresponsible act.

RU have definately got it right by banning it from the 15 man code and fingers crossed RL will do the same.