Referee's attacker stumps up
In 2008 Phillip Bosch of the Eastern Province Referees’ Society, an experienced provincial referee, refereed a schools match between two of the top rugby schools in the Eastern Province – Daniël Pienaar and Grey. Attacked by a spectator, Bosch stopped the match early.
The match was played at Daniël Pienaar. Grey were leading 20-9 when, near the end, there was a hold up for injury. While this was happening, a spectator, Zayne Myburgh, ran onto the field, shouted “Piet van Zyl” and tackled Bosch from behind, injuring the off-guard referee.
At time it was thought that Myburgh’s action was the result of a drunken dare.
Bosch suffered an injury to his lower back and was unable to referee for some time, missing two provincial matches. In fact in his next provincial match, a Currie Cup match between the Leopards and the Pumas, Bosch pulled up with a hamstring and a calf injury, both apparently related to the damage to his lower back.
The matter was finally settled in the Port Elizabeth’s magistrate’s court when Myburgh was ordered to pay Bosch R17,500, which he did.
Van Zyl was the man who tackled Irish referee Dave McHugh during a Tri-Nations match in Durban in 2002, so dislocating McHugh’s shoulder that he could not continue.
* Cautionary note: In 2010, there was much South African upset aimed at Alain Rolland after the Springboks lost to New Zealand in their opening Tri-Nations match.
André Watson, South Africa’s refereeing boss, reports that there were 10 cases of assault of referees in South Africa the next weekend.
