Rugby club slapped with £1000 fine as match referees have their underpants ...

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A rugby club has been disciplined after three referees had their underpants ripped off by players and members following a game.

The officials were surrounded and had their underwear forcibly removed – while they were still wearing their trousers – at the Aylestone St James RFC clubhouse, in Scraptoft.

One victim told the Rugby Football Union, which investigated the incident, that he found the experience “humiliating and embarrassing,” and felt “ashamed” about what had happened.

The RFU carried out a disciplinary hearing and found the club guilty of misconduct. It ordered Aylestone St James, which is nicknamed Jimmies and plays in the Midlands Three East (North) league, to pay £1,000 to a charity and £150 compensation to each official. It also ruled that the club will be docked 15 points next season.

The RFU held the disciplinary hearing after the referees complained about the incident, which happened after Jimmies played Grimsby on November 3 last year.

The hearing in Coventry on December 4 heard how the referees, from the Durham and Northumberland society, had travelled in one car to officiate at separate games. A statement of the facts from the hearing read: “The Aylestone St James game passed without incident but after the game the referee had a few drinks with the team.

“He described the post-game happenings as fairly normal and had no problem engaging in banter and a few drinks with the players. He then had his boxer shorts removed without his consent by numerous players.”

The disciplinary hearing was told the club had a “tradition of people not wearing underwear” after a particular time of day. The referee then sent a text to the other two referees who arrived at the clubhouse in Covert Lane, Scraptoft.

“They were welcomed and drink was purchased for them,” the statement read. “Then, after approximately five minutes or so, they were surrounded and informed about the rule of no underwear.

“They then had their underwear removed despite them not wishing to partake or consent to such action.”

The referees left the clubhouse and immediately reported the matter to the Durham and Northumberland referees’ society.

The report added: “One referee stated in an e-mail to the RFU that he endured 12 hours of some discomfort and pain and some shock. He also felt humiliated. He was in a state of disbelief to an extent that he felt ashamed and found the experience humiliating and embarrassing. The day after the incident he even considered whether or not he wished to continue as a referee.”

Jimmies treasurer Richard Hickson told the hearing the club had a long-standing tradition of people not wearing underwear after a specific time of the day. He said the club, which admitted the allegations, deeply regretted that the referees were subjected to discomfort and humiliation.

The report stated that the club was “known for its hospitality and friendliness towards visiting clubs and officials”, was “highly regarded in the community” and “known for its fair play and sportsmanship”.

“The club had never been before the constituent body for any non-playing disciplinary conduct,” it added.

Finding the club guilty of misconduct, the RFU said: “The visiting referees had been subjected to a humiliating and degrading act, namely the forcible removal of their underwear without their trousers being removed.

“They had their underwear/boxer shorts ripped off. This was physical assault. They all felt humiliated and degraded. The panel accepted the club was contrite and had taken the matter very seriously.

“The panel was mindful of the RFU’s core values, which include respect and discipline, and, while some horseplay and barroom activities do take place, there is a line beyond which clubs and players should not cross.

“On this occasion, the players crossed the line, and subjected the referees to a humiliating experience which showed a lack of respect and self-discipline.”

The act of removing a person’s underwear while they are still wearing trousers is often called “debagging” or giving a “flying wedgie”.

Rugby club slapped with £1000 fine as match referees have their underpants ...