A REFEREE who dropped his shorts during a Peterborough Ladies rugby match, has been suspended from officiating for 18 weeks.
In the bizarre incident on October 28, Peterborough and their opponents Thetford were preparing to restart following a converted try, when East Midlands Society official Robert Tustin walked off the pitch to remove his footwear.
On his return t
o the field, he turned his back on the stand where Peterborough's supporters were gathered, and dropped his shorts.
Following a Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) disciplinary hearing's decision to ban Mr Tustin, Peterborough Ladies vice captain Tracy Palmer said: "The club doesn't want to comment on what happened in the game because we feel it is in the past.
"However, we believe the behaviour was inappropriate and that the punishment is appropriate.
"Hopefully, it doesn't put a black mark next to the women's rugby game as we are working hard to create a positive image."
Thetford captain Amanda Walker said: "We were waiting to restart after Peterborough scored, when the referee walked off the pitch and took his boots off.
"He then walked back on to the pitch and pulled his shorts down.
"It was completely out of the blue, and I have no idea why he did it. It wasn't comical. It was absurd behaviour."
Ms Walker, who said the match continued when the referee pulled his shorts up, added: "People were in shock and just carried on as normal.
"Apparently he asked people not to stamp on his feet, as he didn't have his boots on.
"He's not the youngest of referees, so it was not the nicest of sights, and the only consolation was that his front bits weren't showing."
Ms Walker said she was contacted by Peterborough captain Jen Sothmann after the game, and both parties agreed to lodge a formal complaint to the RFU.
At an RFU disciplinary hearing– held in Coventry and chaired by former scrum half Richard Moon – Mr Tustin, of Newark Road, Corby, admitted a charge of conduct prejudicial to the interest of the union and game contrary to regulation 5.12 of the RFU's rules.
He was banned from refereeing or acting as a touch judge until March 3, and told to pay £100 costs.
Managing director of the RFUW Rosie Williams said: "It may seem a funny thing to do, but this wasn't the sort of behaviour you expect from a referee."
The full article contains 409 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
