Originally Posted by
globecanvas
Regardless of the specifics of this case, I'd be interested to know if there is ever a situation where it's officially OK for non-combined fields to work together.
No. But if they are combined (you said that was not the case) - then yes.
You may not even work with a teammate on a different lap. Unenforceable in a pack, but very much so if a teammate drops back to pull another trying to catch/lap the group.
If the referee overrides the rules - well, no idea.