@MajorRage said in NH club rugby:
Because punching is a red card. Kicking is a red card. Trying on purpose to inflict physical injury on your opponent is a red card.
Not jumping as high as another bloke to catch a ball should not be a sending off offense.
To counter - why should it be a red card?
The rules on reds have moved from "being a dick" - ie punching someone, to "potentially breaking someones neck, shoulder, arm etc" so causing them to flip over & land on their head, spear tackling, neck rolls. All the new directions to refs are to do with preventing serious injury.
Its not a red because he didn't jump as high, its a red because its carelessly causing a situation where another player lands on his neck from 5 feet up. He knew about 3 metres out he had lost that contest & he carried on straight through & the only thing he did was duck his head a bit to limit his own injury potential. There was zero attempt to mitigate the injury to the other player. He could have easily avoided that collision but the oppo player would have steamed off with the ball, so instead he just just a little half jump & tucked his head in.
The point of impact is his back & shoulder going into the player, he wasn't trying to get the ball, the ones where 2 players hit face on & one is a bit higher, those are valid attempts, if you impact a jumper with your shoulder & back you were never trying to get the ball.
I'd argue it was cynical as well as careless