You can push but not pull a player into touch, but both feet must be on the floor.

If there are three players in the tackle, for example, and one of them begins to drag or pull the attacker then the referee must call held. If they continue its a penalty.

Same with the lifting of the leg in any given tackle. If the leg is lifted, the ref calls held. Its a penalty if the defenders continue to lift the leg and not surrender. However, if a defender tackles a player, lifts the leg and puts him on his in one clean motion then its ok.

The rules were brought in to ensure clean and better tackling technique.

Won't the player being tackled just lift his leg up then??

Simple answer is yes and i know it's pathetic.

You would hope that the referee would be able to distinguish between a player having his leg genuinely lifted in the tackle, and a Saints player cocking his leg looking for the penalty

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whats the thinking behind this rule? is it just for safety?

i think its always a crowd lifter when we push/pull an opposing team member into touch :S