[Ruck] When the ball is out

[Norfolk_Ref]

Hi,

For me the ball is out when: 1) the ball is outside the back foot of the hindmost player 2) the ball is lifted off the ground by the scrum half (or similar player) in preparation for passing away.

Today, at a ruck, a player joined the back of the ruck, and whilst bound in with one long arm he picks the ball off the floor. Before he unbinds, an opposing player steams in from behind the back foot and crashes into the back player.

My question is was the ball out because the ball was off the floor? Even though it was within the back foot of the ruck?

Thanks

 

[Treadmore]

Bound in and handled the ball? Penalty, surely.

 

[Norfolk_Ref]

He's the hind most player and was going for the pick and go.

 

[Rushforth]

Pick and go is NOT Bind, pick and go.

Although handling in the ruck is illegal, a player not bound (SH) can be allowed to in the interest of game flow.

A forward should not bind to pick up and then go, in my opinion. This offence precedes others in the given scenario.

 

[didds]

All the defender sees is someone pick the ball from the floor.

Because the laws says nobody bound in a ruck can handle the ball (basic caveats on jacklers which don;t seem to fit this scenario).

PK against the picker

didds

 

[Taff]

He's the hind most player and was going for the pick and go.

The he needs to unbind, pick and go.