League would punish O'Driscoll 'spearing' accused

Rugby league players involved in the type of spear tackle which ended the Lions tour of Brian O’Driscoll would have faced immediate disciplinary action, according to officials.

Television footage showed All Blacks pair Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu tipping O’Driscoll head-first into the Jade Stadium turf inside three minutes of the first Test, leaving the tour captain with a dislocated right shoulder.

The New Zealand pair have been told they will not face any action over the double tackle, a decision which has angered the Lions management.

The Rugby Football League recently issued a directive following a coaches’ meeting to clarify the position on spear tackles.

“Spear tackling is illegal in rugby league,” said RFL match officials director Stuart Cummings. “Any player who lifts an opponent beyond the horizontal in a tackle situation is immediately penalised.”

Four months ago, Leeds winger Marcus Bai and Hull forward Stephen Kearney were both ordered by the Supreme Court in Sydney to pay damages to former New Zealand captain Jarrod McCracken after being found guilty of a spear tackle in a match in Australia in 2000.