The Auckland Rugby Union has referred an alleged incident of referee abuse to the police, following an altercation at Aorere Park in Māngere on Saturday.
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Footage shared on social media shows a referee being pushed to the ground by a player after a match between the Lauli’i Lions and United Brothers in the Auckland Samoa club competition.
Auckland Rugby chief executive Jarrod Bear expressed his concern for the referee’s wellbeing. In an update on Monday, the union confirmed the referee was “in good spirits and has returned to work today.”
“Auckland Rugby received notification of an alleged referee abuse incident on Saturday 28 September and the incident has since been elevated to the police,” Bear said.
“Our immediate priority is the welfare of the referee, and we are supporting him alongside the Auckland Rugby Referees Association. Referees are vital to Auckland Rugby, and there is no place for any form of abuse,” he added.
The union also stated that no further comments would be made while the matter is under judicial review.
Wayne Barnes and Nigel Owens name the worst players to referee
Two of the best referee’s to ever pick up an ACME Whistle, it’s interesting to see who give them the hardest time on the rugby pitch.
DID YOU KNOW? Nigel Owens started refereeing in 1987, after his sports teacher John Beynon suggested he take up refereeing after a poor performance in a school game.
#1. Richie McCaw
BARNES SAID: “Richie always had the knack of asking the right question at the right time, sometimes it felt like I was losing a little bit of control. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t talk a lot on the field. He knew the law book inside out and so when he asked a question, he often had a point.”
OWENS SAID: “If anybody had to pick the greatest player in history, it would surely be a difficult choice between him and Gareth Edwards.”
