Question. If the catcher lands with the ball, his team mates bind on and the opposition don't engage, but don't leave the line out. As the attacking pack advances down the field, with the ball carrier at the front, all bound on - can that become a flying wedge ?
Is there a safety issue where more than one players bind onto the ball carrier, before engaging a defender that we have to bear in mind ? you obviously see it commonly with the ball carrier and a support player bound behind him, being tackled by one defender.
In this situation you may have 8 forwards bound on to the ball carrier and the wing trying to tackle the ball carrier 5 m's down the field.
What do we do then ?
That is not a flying wedge....
[LAWS]Law 10.4 (p) Flying Wedge and Cavalry Charge. A team must not use the ‘Flying Wedge’ or the ‘Cavalry
Charge’.
Sanction: Penalty kick at the place of the original infringement.
‘Flying Wedge’. The type of attack known as a ‘Flying Wedge’ usually happens near the
goal line, when the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick.
The kicker tap-kicks the ball and starts the attack, either by driving towards the goal line or
by passing to a team-mate who drives forward. Immediately, team mates bind on each side
of the ball carrier in a wedge formation. Often one or more of these team mates is in front
of the ball carrier. A ‘Flying Wedge’ is illegal.
Sanction: Penalty kick at the place of the original infringement.[/LAWS]
...nonetheless, I agree with you that players binding onto a ball carrier and then charging forwards is potentially dangerous for both the ball carrier and anyone who tries to tackle him.