Social media has been lit up with rumours that NRL Player Development Program is going to be adopted and the NRL and NSWRL are going to abolish competitive games until our kids are 13 years old in NSW. I am watching the feed of posts where parents, kids and volunteers are completely against this. These are parents and families just like mine who have been involved in Rugby League for many years. 

My Understanding is games will be non competitive until the kids are in the under 13s. Tackling will be removed from under 6's and they won't tackle until they are half way through under 7s. Why? 

And what if you have a daughter who plays Rugby League? Under the current rules she is able to play as a junior until under 12s. She will never get a taste of competitive footy as a junior with the boys. What is this doing for equality in sport? 

I have 3 sons, all who have played league since the under 6s. Learning the skills of the game from amazing coaches and volunteers which includes tackling.

As soon as I heard this news I was incredibly disappointed. I feel these rule changes will spoil this great game that our kids have grown up playing. Think of the younger siblings who learn to tackle in the backyard, or games of footy at school lunch. They then turn up to play weekend footy and are told not to tackle... Our under 6's coaches work so hard organising the kids on the field and now they will have to stop them from doing what comes naturally. How does this impact PSSA sport in schools too?

The only way to come at them will be in unison. Lets take it to the top, NRL and NSWRL.

The rule changes are apparently to increase numbers in the sport..... I am yet to read a positive comment in the response to this on social media. 

There are so many games you can be involved in that support rugby league but don't have tackling, Touch Football and Oz Tag are at the front of my mind. Parents make a choice to get their kids involved in Rugby League if they wanted a non contact sport they can choose either of the above. 

We are the ones involved in the clubs, the early mornings, trainings and volunteering, no one has asked us. Why are these decisions being made without consulting the people who keep this game alive? 

Let’s band together and LET OUR KIDS PLAY!!!