Grant Sinclair, a Premier grade referee, said that he had faced constant criticisms in the past but some have become personal lately. He told a local newspaper that he had given so much from his free time and for the past two years the abuse has just gotten unbearable.

Sinclair has been serving as referee in the New Zealand town for the past five years. He noticed that most of the coaches are not disciplining their players enough to respect the decisions of the referee.

The officials from the New Zealand Rugby Union said that it is rare for a referee to cite sideline abuse as the main reason for resigning from their post.

This season, there had been three reported cases of physical abuse of a referee.

The Marlborough Rugby Union has already issued a warning on clubs which could face a ban if continuing incidence of sideline abuses to referees takes place.

Brent Anderson, NRZU Community General Manager, said that there are fifty cases reported for this year, still below average of 80 incidents per year.