Boy who 'physically abused' rugby referee given 30-month ban from the sport

The boy was seen to tackle and punch the referee after receiving a yellow card. File photo

The 11-year-old rugby player who was seen to tackle and punch a referee earlier this year has been handed a two and a half year ban from the sport.

The decision is being appealed by his club, Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club.

The boy was seen to tackle and punch the referee after receiving a yellow card for a head-high tackle to an opposing Marist Eastern player during their Under-12 grade match in June.

The game was stopped after the incident that occurred about 10 minutes into the second half, and an official complaint was made to the Auckland Rugby Union.

The boy's case was heard last month by an independent disciplinary committee, as per Auckland Rugby Union protocol.

The decision was reserved, but was released in a statement today.

Despite multiple eyewitness accounts that the referee was punched, the statement said: "Please note that in the findings from the hearing, nowhere was it stated that the referee was punched."

The statement said: "The committee determined that the circumstances warranted the referee calling the game off; the match was awarded to Papatoetoe, who were in front at the time the game was called off; as a result of a match official being physically abused a player has received a two year six month suspension from playing rugby."

Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club has appealed against the decision, and the appeal will be considered by a separate appeals committee.

Through the union, the Papatoetoe club said: "We have respectfully appealed this decision. We feel that a three-season ban is excessive for an 11-year-old boy, given the circumstances surrounding the situation."