Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Sport: Rugby referee assaulted during game in American Samoa

Posted at 23:02 on 24 July, 2011 UTC

A rugby referee was punched, kicked and beaten during the championship game between Nu’uuli and Avele on at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in American Samoa.

The referee, from the Samoa Rugby Union, was taken to the hospital with injuries.

Spectators at the game say it was management and members of the Nu’uuli team who assaulted the referee.

A rugby union official said Nu’uuli had complained about a call and while the referee was explaining, he was punched and while still on the ground, unconscious, the beating continued.

The incident comes as the chairman of the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions, Harry Schuster, was in the territory for discussions with the American Samoa Rugby Union.