De La Salle investigating tackle that made 12-year-old player quit rugby league, prompts calls for grading overhaul

De La Salle is investigating a dangerous lifting tackle that made a 12-year-old club junior quit rugby league. The incident has prompted demands for an overhaul to the junior grading system. WATCH THE FOOTAGE

A 12-year-old boy who suffered a shattered shoulder from a dangerous lifting tackle has quit rugby league as his father appeals for junior footy’s grading system to be overhauled before more kids walk away from the game.

De La Salle front-rower Oliver Campbell sustained a smashed humerus when hurled into the air on Saturday with his dad Peter claiming the Kogarah opponent’s strength and skill were clearly above the rest of the players competing in the under-12s division three game.

The Cronulla Junior Rugby League is aware of the incident and have viewed video of the tackle. De La Salle is also investigating while the NSWRL has been made aware of Peter’s concerns.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE TACKLE IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Other De La Salle players refused to take a hit-up for fear of being injured by superior opponents.

Oliver spent nine hours in Sutherland Hospital and will visit Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick next week to determine whether he requires surgery. He will not attend school this week and has been taking Endone and fentanyl for pain relief.

A frustrated and angry Peter called for the defender who committed the tackle - he was penalised on-field - to be suspended and demanded he play in a higher division to match his ability.

Oliver Campbell in hopital after the tackle.

Peter said kids elect to play division three to match their ability and elite junior players with an aggressive approach should be playing at a higher level.

“Oliver doesn’t want to play again. He’s done, he doesn’t want to go back. I want him to play again but I’m not going to let him when this type of thing happens. He has teammates who are rethinking their decision to play,” Peter said.

“I have never seen a kid get pile-driven like that before and there were other kids too scared to take a hit-up.

“You can see on the X-rays how far out his humerus bone has been smashed. I freaked out when I saw how bad it was. I wouldn’t have let him play if I knew those were the tackles he was going to face because he’s not at that level. All the parents are rattled by it.

“Kids aren’t that aggressive in division three – that’s why they’re playing division three. Kids that want to go and smash each other – that’s what the top divisions are for.

“Oliver went to hospital. He’s upset and struggling to sleep because he’s in a fair bit of pain. He has been taking Endone and fentanyl – it’s not nice. The tackle was dodgy and put Oliver above the horizontal – it’s just lucky he wasn’t dropped on his head to be honest.

“You can get suspensions for a lifting tackle and this is definitely a lifting tackle which should receive a suspension.”

Kogarah only has a bronze division side but Peter insists the stronger players should be taken to neighbouring clubs to play in a division which matches their skill level.

X-ray of Oliver Campbell’s smashed humerus.

“Ability needs to be considered. If players are that far above the standard of that division, they need to be going to other clubs that are in higher divisions,” Peter said. “They shouldn’t be allowed to stay in the same team and dominate opposition kids at division three level.

“I let Oliver play because the division three standard is quite low and he wouldn’t get injured. He’s never going to play NRL – he just wants to play for fun. He suffered a hit you might get in the gold division.

“Kogarah were clearly a division three side but they had these two players who were well above everyone else on the field. Kogarah doesn’t have a gold or silver side so that’s an issue but when you’ve got kids of this ability they need to go and play in a division that suits their level.

Junior tackle sparks investigation.

“Division three is pointless if you’re going to have players running around axing all these little kids. The opposition coach would be aware their players were capable of tackling like that.

“Oliver’s arm is in a sling and we have an appointment at Randwick Children’s Hospital next week to see whether he needs surgery. He’s not going to school this week – he can’t risk bumping the arm.”

A Parramatta fan, Oliver attends Woolooware Public School.

Originally published as De La Salle investigating tackle that made 12-year-old player quit rugby league, prompts calls for grading overhaul