[Law] lift to catch

[crossref]

At a restart

- red restart, and chase hard
- two blue players lift a team mate, who catches the ball

If red chasers are in/around the 'pod' and in a position to play the ball (if they could reach it), how do you referee this?
- is blue obstructing?
- on grounds of safety it must be illegal for red to tackle the lifters or the catcher until he is on the floor. So does blue catcher get a 'free' pass off the top?

 

[Phil E]

- is blue obstructing?

Only if the lifters step in front of the lifted. Same as at a lineout.

- on grounds of safety it must be illegal for red to tackle the lifters or the catcher until he is on the floor. So does blue catcher get a 'free' pass off the top?

Yes, and yes.

 

[tim White]

Yes, and Yes, and without delay.

 

[crossref]

it's something you see all the time in pro rugby, but I came across for the first time in real life last week, and so had actually think about how to ref it.

Of course it only happened once.

Also in the same game was only the third-ever drop-goal attempt I have had -- (it missed)