By ALAN PERROTT
Two South Auckland rugby players face possible life bans for assaulting a referee after an all-in brawl between two teenage club teams.
The under-17 open grade match between Ardmore Marist and Pakuranga on Saturday afternoon was abandoned after referee Paul Devane, the Pakuranga community constable, was threatened and punched in the face.
The initial brawl followed a fight between the opposing halfbacks about seven minutes before fulltime.
Almost every player on the field became involved in the fracas, which continued for about two minutes before tempers settled down.
"Then one of the Ardmore Marist players came towards me and said he was going to smash my face in," said Mr Devane.
"He came forward and threw his shoulder back as though he was going to hit me. Then there was a rush of players and a taller player leaned over and hit my face with his fist. It wasn't too good - disappointing more than anything because I was quite enjoying the game."
Mr Devane, who was not seriously injured, now sports a sore eye, but he is questioning his future involvement in the sport after refereeing for three years.
"It made me think about things, that's for sure.
"I guess there's been other incidents this year, but I always thought it would never happen to me.
"As I say, it's just so disappointing and I think there should be a strong stance taken, especially with players of that age, to send a very strong message to others.
"But I still intend to make myself available next Saturday."
Luckily for the pair, Constable Devane said he was not tempted to arrest his attackers.
"When things like that happen you have to separate the two parts of your life. I have every faith in the judicial process."
The players, managers and administrators from each club will face an Auckland Rugby Union judicial hearing tomorrow.
Senior officials from each club were unaware of the incident but called for the strongest possible sanctions to send a message to other young players.
Ardmore Marist president Les Coomber said the club in no way condoned such actions. "If it's true I'll be bitterly disappointed," he said.
"The referee is sacrosanct. Everybody plays footy for fun and referees do it because they love the game.This sort of thing is not on."
The maximum penalty for assaulting a referee is a life ban from the game.
Laurie Woodgate, chairman of the ARU disciplinary committee, said the players involved in the attack had been suspended until the inquiry was completed.
Rugby violence this year
June 12: A coach and two schoolboys received bans after three referees, including one aged 16 years, were assaulted at separate matches in Counties Manukau and North Harbour.
June 26: Four spectators were arrested and four players suspended after a brawl between two Christchurch schoolboy teams.
July 3: A player was sent off and a spectator evicted from the ground after they began fighting during a Poverty Bay club rugby match.
July 20: A Napier rugby player was sentenced to 200 hours' community work and banned from the game for life for punching a referee during a club game in May.
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