Child Abuses Referee

It is not wholesome but not unusual for a rugby player to assault a referee. But when the player ins in an Under-12 match and the player is an 11-year-old it is unusual enough to be unique.

The match was being played at the at the Papatoetoe Sports Centre in South Auckland between Papatoetoe and Marist Eastern Junior Rugby. Both clubs are affiliated to the Auckland Rugby Union. In fact Papatoetoe is the filth biggest club in the union.

In the second half the referee showed the player a yellow card for a high tackle. According to a witness, the player was walking  towards the posts when he turned and made a rude gesture in the direction of the referee who had his back to him. The player then charged at the referee from behind, grabbed him around the neck and felled him. Player and referee were on the ground when the player is alleged to have punched the referee.

This ended the match.

The referee was not physically injured but upset by what had happened. Those watching were horrified.

As is the correct procedure, the matter was reported to the Auckland Rugby Union which went about organising a disciplinary hearing at which the player, his parents, club representation, referee representation, witnesses and union officials would be present.

The usual punishment for attacking a referee is a life ban. If that happened in this case, the player could, in time, become the longest suspended rugby player of all time. Such a suspension seems unlikely.