KEY POINTS:
Five people have been banned from rugby for life for attacking a referee and touch judge at a King Country rugby final.
Two others were banned for five years.
Kio Kio supporter Tuamalie Patea and son Tavita Patea were banned for life after a rugby judicial hearing in Hamilton on Wednesday. They assaulted a touch judge, while the son also assaulted a spectator.
A Kio Kio official, who is yet to be named, and players Tom Leitu and Ben Sapau were also handed down life bans for assaulting a touch judge and misconduct charges, the Waikato Times reported.
Rupena Young and Tulia Lafaele were given five-year bans for assault. An eighth person escaped penalty because of insufficient evidence.
The penalties comes a month after Kio Kio players, supporters and officials attacked the referee and touch judge after losing the King Country grand final match against Waitete.
The Kio Kio club was also found guilty of misconduct and placed on probation.
- NZPA
