A Hampstead player has been handed a 45-week suspension for abusing a referee during a Canterbury club rugby game.

A Canterbury club rugby player has been banned from all rugby for 45 weeks for verbally and physically abusing a referee.

The punishment was handed down to Hampstead's Siaosi Toese​ at a judicial hearing on Wednesday night, as investigations continued into a second incident from the game involving a spectator joining an on-field fight.

It comes as Waihora Rugby's Bronson Munro was given a 46-week suspension for racially abusing a Fijian player.

Mid Canterbury Rugby Union (MCRU) chief executive Ian Patterson said Toese's punishment should send a clear message that abuse of any type against match officials was unacceptable.

"Referees are volunteers giving up their time so that others can enjoy the game they love. Hopefully this decision sends a clear message that abuse of match officials, indeed, abuse of any type, will not be tolerated in our game," he said.

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Toese was red-carded for verbally abusing the referee in the 79th minute of a senior B clash between Hampstead and Southern at Hinds on Saturday. He then striked at the referee's hand as he held the card, hitting it with some force.

Toese appeared in front of the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union judicial panel on Wednesday night and pleaded guilty.

He was Hampstead's captain for the game. The referee had called him out, along with the Southern captain, to discuss player conduct following an on-field scuffle.

At the hearing, Toese acknowledged his actions were inappropriate and said he had lost control of himself in the moment.

The panel reviewed evidence from the player, the referee and considered the referee's report, before deciding two offences had been committed – verbal and physical abuse of a match official.

They took the player's remorse, admission of responsibility and clean disciplinary record into account when considering the sanction.

It was one of two serious incidents to emerge from the game. A spectator allegedly ran onto the field to join in after a fight broke out. That incident is being investigated by both the MCRU and the Hampstead Rugby Club.