Just reading the beeb and there's a story about Alex Walmsley's knee operation

but this the image that accompanies the story

When was the last time a ball carrier was penalised for high contact? I fully understand the argument that a player who slips and is caught high is still a penalty etc, so why does it not work both ways. surely all players have a duty of care to each other?

Its the same way a ball carrier can lead with a shoulder but not the tackler.

This isn't a whinge about the final by the way, just the image made me think that if this was a tackler on ball carrier we'd be putting up the gallows now

you can hand off to the face in rugby

You can, but that's not a hand, its a forearm

maybe but is that the initial contact or has the hand has slipped off the face?

Initial contact from Hastings on Fages was with the shoulder but was still a penalty

true but shouldnt have been

Hand off to the face, slipped up the arm by the point of the picture. Happens all the time, play on.

That's not what I'm asking, the photo is irrelevant really, its the disparity between the roles attacker and defender. If a tackle starts on the shoulder and ends up with contact to the head its a penalty, but a ball carrier can legally make contact with the defenders head, and we play on.

Well yeah but what's the alternative? The attacker needs to be able to get his bumpers up and fend in order to protect himself. Getting penalised in possession is also a big game changer.

Leading with the forearm or elbow in possession is still a penalty. McShane got three matches for it last year after he did it to Myler.

Not with a forearm you can't,ask Kelvin Skerrett

Yeah McShane the GRUB

Can’t tell what’s gone on from that photo but a couple of Catalans players (Casty and Kasiano) should’ve been warned about leading with their forearms/elbows after that Warrington play off game.