The Auckland Rugby Union says violence in junior rugby in the region is not common after an 11-year-old boy allegedly tackled a referee to the ground and punched him during a under-12 club match at the Papatoetoe sports grounds on Saturday morning.

The Papatoetoe club player is alleged to have carried out the attack after being given a yellow card for a high tackle during a game against Marist Eastern and could face a life ban from rugby. The match was abandoned after the player and referee were separated.

A hearing of the ARU's disciplinary committee on Tuesday should determine the player's punishment, but could be delayed because of a separate disciplinary process being undertaken by the Papatoetoe club.

ARU spokeswoman Libby Gundmundsson told the New Zealand Herald the situation was a unique one and said they were offering support to all parties involved, without trying to "intrude on the independence of the disciplinary committee."

Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club chairman Rick Steedman shared similar feelings about the regularity of these types of incidents and said he believed it was a "one-off".

There had been a number of offences from both teams during the game leading up to the card, Steedman said. The referee had warned the captains the next player to step out of line would be penalised.

While the maximum punishment for the player was a lifetime ban, Steedman said on Saturday the player would possibly miss the rest of the rugby season.

"We just don't want the boy to be hung out to dry."

Steedman said the boy was "obviously distraught" after the game and left the grounds straight away.

Auckland Rugby Referees Association referee manager Smudge McNeilage said the referee was not physically injured in the attack, but was "certainly affected".

"He was been resting at home, he has certainly been affected by the event," he told the New Zealand Herald.

The referees association, witnesses from both teams, along with the player and his parents, will be joining the disciplinary committee at the hearing, it is understood.

Steedman said the culture at the club, and in south Auckland teams in general, had improved. Local sports teams had come together in recent years to develop ways to keep supporter culture and sportsmanship positive.

Steedman said they wanted to alleviate the perception that south Auckland sports clubs were "rough" or a "bit dirty".

However, things had gotten out of hand in this instance, he said.