Wasps captain Alan Pallister's tackle on Jamie Rooney last Sunday has prompted something of an outcry among rugby league officials and supporters this week.

Featherstone Rovers chairman Richard Evans claimed somebody will be killed unless high tackles are stamped out.

Rovers fans have been calling on the RFL to throw the book at Pally at Tuesday's disciplinary hearing.

And now the RFL's director of rugby Greg McCallum is ordering a clamp-down on late and high tackles after players have kicked the ball, no doubt a direct reaction to Pallister's tackle which left the Featherstone starlet with a broken jaw.

McCallum has written to clubs warning that referees are being told to hand out red cards and not yellow ones for offenders - again surely a response to referee Julian King's decision to sin-bin Pally instead of sending him off.

McCallum said: "We are responsible for the safety of all players and we will not shirk from our responsibilities to ensure that every player receives due protection from the referee."

While nobody in rugby league would condone dangerous tackles, it seems the Wasps skipper has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

High tackles have always existed, some sadly resulting in injuries, but they have never provoked this kind of reaction.

Perhaps it has finally brought the issue to a head and if that helps to ensure the safety of players then that can only be for the good of the game.

But let's hope Pally, a loyal player with a good disciplinary record, is not made a scapegoat on Tuesday.

The Wasps, who take on Villeneuve in the Challenge Cup tomorrow, could find themselves channel hopping if they draw a French team in future years.

The RFL and the French Federation this week agreed that French clubs will be allowed to have home advantage in the Challenge Cup from next season.

Currently, French clubs always travel to play in Britain even if they are drawn with home advantage.

Ale drinkers down at Huntington Stadium may notice a change in the drinks now on sale in the bar.

That's because the Stadium caterers, Sutcliffes, have agreed to switch their brewery supplier from John Smiths to Tetley to help out the Wasps.

Tetley have already taken out a minor sponsorship with the Wasps and it could lead to bigger things if the bar proves a success.

Chief executive Ann Garvey is thrilled that Sutcliffes have co-operated with the Wasps to aid the club. Such gestures certainly augur well for the future.