Rugby: Brumbies assistant punished for ref abuse

The Highlanders beat the Brumbies to advance to the Super Rugby semifinals. Photo / File

Brumbies assistant coach Dan McKellar has been fined and warned for misconduct in a sour footnote to his team's ill-humoured Super Rugby quarter-finals exit.

SANZAAR judiciary officer Terry Willis fined McKellar $10,000 - $5000 of it suspended - for using crude and insulting language to referee Angus Gardner after the Brumbies were eliminated 15-9 by the Highlanders 10 days ago in Canberra.

Willis said McKellar had "unreservedly apologised" to Gardner since and agreed that that type of behaviour had no place in the game.

McKellar was also formally reprimanded and issued with a warning.

Emotional Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham claimed after the match that his team "deserved to win" and "should be in the semi-finals".

He pointed the finger at Gardner and TMO George Ayoub, saying: "The guys did everything right in that game - it's hard for me not to comment on the refereeing.

He was adamant the Brumbies should have been awarded a late try when Lausii Taliauli went over, although replays appeared to suggest he lost the ball.

And he felt they should have received more from Gardner for their scrum dominance at a series of late scrums.

- AAP