Hand Off or Fend to the face/head/neck

[Last_20]

Heading into the new season and I am anticipating questions from players clarifying whether hand-offs to the head, face or neck area are impacted by the increased focus on high tackles and high contact in general? I seem to get asked this mostly when refereeing women's matches interestingly? Grateful for reflections from other referees. By implication is the quantum of excessive force (Law 9:24) different for connection with the head than the arm or torso say?

[Pinky]

Covered in out pre-season. reminded that ball carrier has more leeway to fend than tackler, but ball carrier is not allowed to lead with elbow/forearm and if they do contact with head is RC

[Marc Wakeham]

...ball carrier has more leeway to fend than tackler,,,

I just do not get this at all.

[thepercy]

I just do not get this at all.

Similarly, the BC could lower their shoulder (sling/tucked) and target the tacklers head, and it would be play on.

[Marc Wakeham]

If it is illecgal to make contact with the head, it should apply to both sides. A fend / hand off could easily cause concussion with a head being i]jarred backwards.

The laws are an ass in this respect.

[Decorily]

Similarly, the BC could lower their shoulder (sling/tucked) and target the tacklers head, and it would be play on.

It wouldn't necessarily be play on...
But I hear what you are saying and I agree that it is ridiculous!

[OB..]

How do you fend of a tackler who comes in low?

Many years ago I watched a touring Fijian player, Tikoisuva, playing on the wing against East Midlands. I was directly behind one run up the left wing. As the tackler came in, he put his hand firmly on the top of the tackler's head and used it as a pivot to run his legs round in a semicircle so that the tackler could not reach his legs. No danger to either player, though the tackler looked a bit embarrassed.

[smeagol]

How do you fend of a tackler who comes in low?

Many years ago I watched a touring Fijian player, Tikoisuva, playing on the wing against East Midlands. I was directly behind one run up the left wing. As the tackler came in, he put his hand firmly on the top of the tackler's head and used it as a pivot to run his legs round in a semicircle so that the tackler could not reach his legs. No danger to either player, though the tackler looked a bit embarrassed.

When asked by senior players about fending off and contact above the shoulders, the keywords I use are a "push" vs a "open-hand strike."

[Taff]

If it is illecgal to make contact with the head, it should apply to both sides. ... The laws are an ass in this respect.

You do have a point, but if a tackler could get a BC just by deliberately taking a shoulder charge to the head, there would be nobody left to play.

I think the logic is a tackler is half expecting a shoulder charge to the chops and can position himself in such a way that it doesn't happen. A BC on the other hand isn't expecting a shoulder charge to the head and it is therefore more dangerous when it happens.

[Marc Wakeham]

. A BC on the other hand isn't expecting a shoulder charge to the head and it is therefore more dangerous when it happens.

Even when you play a PI side or Farrell is in the other team?