BREAKING: Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors young men banned

Following the latest round of Betfred Championship, Betfred League One, Reserve, Academy and Scholarship fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Anthony Thackeray (Sheffield Eagles) – Grade D Strikes – Refer to Tribunal
Bobby Shingler (Warrington Wolves Academy) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Joe Baldwin (Wigan Warriors Academy) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
James Feather (Keighley Cougars) – Grade B Dangerous Contact – 1 Match Penalty Notice
Sam Hallas (Bradford Bulls) – Grade A – 0 Match Penalty Notice

Two of those academy players – from Warrington and Wigan – will be hoping to make it all the way to the first-team in 2023 and beyond.

For Bobby Shingler, the minutes state: “Law 15.1 (i) Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player. Grade B.”

The minutes for Joe Baldwin reveal: “Law 15.1 (i) Dangerous Contact – A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player. Grade B.”

There has been a major crack down on ‘dangerous contact’ incidents in the world of rugby league in the UK with an increasing attempt by the Match Review Panel and the RFL to stop the dangerous ‘flexion’ that continues to come up in these incidents.

For Shingler and Baldwin it will hopefully be taken on board for the future as both men try to impress their respective Super League clubs for the future.