An Auckland referee was "blindsided" by a player during a junior rugby match today, as horrified parents rushed to the official's aid from the sideline.

Yellow card

The incident, during an under-12 open grade game between Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club and Marist Eastern, horrified parents and spectators at the Papatoetoe Sports Grounds.

One parent, who was on the sideline during the match, said there had been four or five consecutive penalties against the Papatoetoe team before a head-high tackle sparked the incident ten minutes into the second half.

"There was a head-high tackle and the referee decided to yellow card the boy," the parent who did not want to be named, told ONE News.

"[The player] was walking towards the goal posts when he turned around and gave the ref the finger."

He said what occurred next was something he never expected to see on a rugby field.

"He ran at the ref and gave him a head-high tackle. The ref had his back turned and was blindsided by the boy who dropped him to the ground.

"There was a bit of a scuffle on the ground and then the player punched the referee."

Parents and spectators rushed onto the field to stop the fight and help the referee who was "lying flat" on the turf.

He said the "shocked" referee managed to regain his feet, before the game was abandoned and the player's parents ushered the "pretty hostile" boy from the sports ground.

"It was pretty disgusting. We all thought it was completely horrible. That poor referee."

Papatoetoe's club captain James Sciascia said he was aware of the incident but declined to comment further.

"I was at the game but I didn't see it," he said.