Christchurch rugby player Sake Aca (right) with his wife Kiti (left) and one of his daughters Mere (middle).

Rugby player Sake Aca doesn't want any other rugby player subjected to the racist vitriol he had to endure at a club match.

The former police officer from Fiji, 27, left the field in tears after taunts by Lincoln University supporters during Saturday's Christchurch senior club rugby final at Rugby Park.

David Walker Christchurch's Fijian winger Sake Aca left the field in tears after he was the target of racial taunts during a Canterbury club rugby final.

He is calling on the Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) to stamp out racism in the game. His wife wants the culprit to make a public apology.

The racial taunts involved abusive comments about Aca and his family.

The CRU has been working with Lincoln University senior officials to single out the perpetrator, who could face criminal charges or be banned from games if a rugby club member.

Aca said he was referred to by his number, 14, along with several racist remarks, not long after half time.

"They called me a black c***, an idiot, and they used the f word."

That's when Aca asked his coach to take him off the field.

"I told my coach I was hurt inside. I can't feel it, I can't handle it, I couldn't focus," he said.

"That's why I told my coach, 'can you send me outside because it really hurts, it really hurts inside'."

Aca said the abuse came from a group of Lincoln University supporters, who were drinking alcohol at the game.

Having only moved to New Zealand two years ago, Aca said it was the first time he had been racially abused.

"I feel shock when I heard that kind of comments about me."

His teammates had sent him messages of support via Facebook.

"They feel sorry about the kind of comments and sent me messages saying they feel sorry, we are beside you, don't worry about it."

Members of the Fijian community had also contacted him, telling Aca to "keep focused".

He hoped the Canterbury Rugby Union would ensure no other player would have to go through the same ordeal.

"They should be dealing with this kind of situation – hopefully they can find the person."

His wife, Kiti Aca, who only recently moved to New Zealand, said the family had "struggled" a lot to get to where they were today.

"It's just a little disappointing that this happened. But for him it's a very small obstacle in the destination that we are looking forward to and we will get through it."

Kiti Aca said the family would "appreciate" if the people making the racist remarks made a public apology.

"If he had the guts to stand up in public and racially abuse someone then he could get up in public and apologise because that could be a way for him to learn that it's not something we all have to do – it's something we are trying to avoid."

Sake Aca said he would have preferred the people making the racial comments had spoken to him after the game.

"Come straight to me after the game and talk straight to my face so I can understand."

He was so distraught he could not finish the match, which was won by Lincoln University, 24-19. He asked to be taken off the field with 10 minutes left and was too upset to attend the post match function, instead driving straight home with his family..

Aca hoped the CRFU could put an end to racial abuse in rugby, after his "brothers" Peni Manumanuniliwa and Nemani Nadolo were also subjected to racist remarks.

'NET CLOSING' ON OFFENDER

The CRFU could be set to press police charges with "the net closing" around the identity of a spectator who racially abused Aca.

"The net is closing; they have narrowed down some names," CRFU community rugby general manager Tim Gilkison said on Tuesday afternoon.

"They haven't been able to identify the actual individuals [responsible for the abuse], but there are some recurring names and a [group] photograph. We are getting there.

"We are just investigating whether to press charges through the police, to ask them to investigate and try to get to the bottom of it."

Gilkison said it was proving difficult to identify the offender. "People hear [abuse being directed], but don't necessarily see [the person responsible]. It's not an easy process to get to the bottom of."

He was aware of claims from spectators, commenting on The Press Facebook site, that a Lincoln University sideline team official, charged with running water on to the players, may have known the members of the group believed to be responsible for the taunts.

The water carrier had been spoken to by Lincoln University officials, who were gathering evidence.

Gilkison said the CRFU had two security staff at the ground and union and Metro rugby committee officials were also present. But the incident was not brought to their attention, or "it could have been dealt with at the time".

SPECTATOR BEHAVIOUR "DISTURBING"

A spectator who heard Aca being racially abused says the behaviour of at least 40 supporters in the crowd was "disturbing".

Tere Ngariki had taken his 6-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son to their first club final, and was shocked by the behaviour of about 40 to 50 Lincoln University supporters standing nearby.

"It was quite disturbing that you could actually see a couple of crates of beer and a bottle of whisky. I couldn't believe it; I thought this was a family event."

The offending group were "chanting and swearing" loudly and throwing bottles into the air throughout the game. At least one person hurled abuse directly at Aca.

"I feel sorry for Sake Aca. He did nothing wrong."

Ngariki said he told the group to "tone down" but they argued back and he moved his children to the other side of the park at half time.

"The rugby union needs to take some responsibility - they should have had security guards there," he said.

The Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) has condemned the spectator's actions and is investigating.

READ MORE: Abused player so distraught he could not finish game

Gilkison encouraged anyone who witnessed the behaviour in the crowd to come forward.

Appalled by the incident, he said racism had no place in Canterbury rugby.

"Lincoln University are doing their homework around that and making some inquiries. We're trying to get some footage."

If the Lincoln University supporter was a club member, Gilkison said they could enforce a range of sanctions through their judicial process.

The penalties included expulsion from attending matches, bans from playing or involvement with any team, and/or fines.

It would be a police matter, if they were not associated with the club.

Lincoln University's interim vice-chancellor, Dr John Hay, said a member of public on the grass embankment was thought to be responsible for the abuse.

"Lincoln University in no way condones behaviour of this kind in any sporting code and is saddened to hear that this occurred at the rugby match."

The university was working with the CRU and would conduct its own internal investigation into the incident, he said.

Staff had also made contact with the Christchurch Rugby Club to check on Aca's welfare.

"It is always a shame when the ill-considered actions of one person can spoil what is otherwise a great occasion," Hay said.

A university spokesman said no further comments would be made by anyone from the institution at this time.

READ MORE:

* Canterbury Country club rugby players 'racially abused' by spectators

* Canterbury club rugby players in tears after racial taunts

* Fijian rugby player Peni Manumanuniliwa racially abused every game

* Crusaders star Nemani Nadolo racially abused

Christchurch co-coach Daniel O'Brien said Aca was in tears as he came off the field.

"I had to take him off because emotionally, he was out of the game," he said.

He then went straight home after the final and did not attend Christchurch's post-match function.

"He's a very quiet man and family orientated and he was in tears coming off the field," O'Brien said.

"You wouldn't wish it on anyone."

Aca has been a member of the Christchurch senior team for the past two years.

It is the second reported case of racial abuse in a senior game in Canterbury this year.

Allegations of racism were made following a division one country game between Mid Canterbury side Hampstead and North Canterbury side Saracens. .

Following that incident, Southbridge player Peni Manumanuniliwa, also a Fijian, said he had been subjected to regular racial abuse while playing.