A Perth club rugby player has been suspended for 96 games, lasting a period of almost five years, after being found guilty of assaulting a referee during a game in Western Australia’s top premiership competition.

Rugby WA confirmed it had issued the suspension to a Perth Bayswater player, whose name was withheld, after an incident on April 22 in a WA Rugby Premier Grade clash between Associates and Perth Bayswater.

According to sources with knowledge of the incident, the Perth Bayswater player knocked the referee, Ian Sunderland, over from behind during the run of play, but the official believed it had been accidental at the time and did not take action in the game.

Via witness statements and video of the collision, however, the incident was subsequently determined to be deliberate and on April 26, the player was cited by RugbyWA for physical abuse of a Match Official, under World Rugby’s Law 9.28.

Rugby Australia’s integrity unit were also made aware of the incident.

Under World Rugby’s laws, the highest possible sanction is a 96-week suspension. That punishment was handed down on May 2, and the appeals period expired last week.

RugbyWA said in a statement: “RugbyWA can confirm the suspension of a Perth Bayswater Rugby Club player under the charge of physical abuse of a Match Official (under Law 9.28).

“The suspension follows an incident from a Premier Grade game on 22 April 2023 – a RugbyWA Judicial Committee finding the player guilty.