LISTEN | “We lost one full team” The Effect of Tackling Ban on Prominent Brisbane Junior Club

Queensland Rugby League have announced that last year’s trialed tackle ban in junior competitions will be extended to U/7s for the first 10 rounds of this season.

Designed to bring kids back into the game, the controversial ruling was heralded as a success last season however it appears to be having the opposite effect according the President of a major Rugby League nursery.

Dwayne Antcliffe, President of Logan Brothers JRLFC – famous for producing the likes of Cameron Smith and Corey Parker, joined The Big Breakfast to reveal the impact of ‘no tackling’ rule has already had on his proud club.

“...(In) 2018 we had four U/6s teams, between 44-48 kids, last year we only had 36"  Antcliffe told Marto, Margaux and Nick Cody this morning.

In lieu of tackling, juniors instead play a “form of OZtag” where a tag is ripped off the side of the ball carriers’ shorts.

‘Injury or fear of injury’ was found to be a key reason that junior players avoided rugby league according the NRL’s Retention Survey conducted back in 2017.

Hear the full chat below

The Big Breakfast with Marto, Margaux and Nick Cody returns weekdays when you wake up!