Junior rugby league was marred by violence on Saturday as a 34-year-old man was arrested and charged after allegedly punching a 16-year-old referee in the face during a game in Sydney's south.
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NSW Police responded to reports of an assault at a playing field at Anzac Avenue, Engadine, which is home to the Engadine Dragons, a junior rugby league club affiliated with the Cronulla-Sutherland District Junior Rugby Football League.
A NSW Police Force spokesman told Fairfax Media that around 1pm on Saturday, police from Sutherland Local Command responded to reports of an attack at the ground. The older man was taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The teenage referee was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to the Children's Hospital at Randwick in a stable condition.
When Fairfax Media spoke to the young referee's grandfather, he confirmed the boy had been involved in an "incident".
"He's in hospital but I don't know much more than at present," he said.
