EP rugby refs flash red card

[caption id="attachment_41221" align="alignright" width="200"] CHEEKY WATSON[/caption]

ALL Eastern Province club rugby matches scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled after referees downed their whistles in protest against a series of unruly incidents directed at them.

Irate referees say they have been spat on and also needed to be physically protected by players and executive members at some games.

In one instance, a referee's car tyres were slashed after a game.

Matters reached a head when the Eastern Province Rugby Referees' Society raised concerns with the EP Rugby Union (EPRU) regarding the conduct shown towards them at club matches.

Manager of the society Jacques Hugo said because of the recent incidents,referees unanimously decided to down whistles until at least July 29.

"It has become a matter of course that referees are verbally abused from the moment they set foot at various grounds until the match comes to an end," Hugo said in a statement.

More than 100 referees belong to the association. - George Byron