For one of those suspended, Trevor James, it means the end of 60 years of involvement with rugby for both the Maheno and Athletic clubs as a player, office holder and supporter. He does not intend to go back to rugby once his ban is lifted.
North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson on Saturday confirmed an Athletic player, team official and supporter had received ''significant bans'' as a result of a complaint laid by the Referees' Association to the union's independent judicial committee.
Mr Jackson would neither name them nor detail the bans.
''The union has zero tolerance for abuse at any match official, and all three should have known better. We have dealt with it and are moving on,'' he said.
The incident took place at the Citizens Shield semifinal on July 20, when Athletic was beaten 27-20 by Valley.
Two men abused the referee, swearing at him and accusing him of being incompetent and biased. A spectator abused a match official.
The Otago Daily Times understands Mr James, who was the strapper for the Athletic side, and second five-eighth Simi Fuluasou were banned from attending any New Zealand ground or stadium where a rugby match was being played from July 26 to August 16 inclusive and then from March 1 to April 26 inclusive next year.
The spectator, Phil Winter, is understood to be banned until November 1.
Mr Winter could not watch son Dylan playing for North Otago on Saturday and will also miss watching him during the Heartland championship.
Mr Winter disputed what was claimed.
His comments were ''a general remark'' about the refereeing, he said.
''I'll take my punishment and move on,'' he said, but did not want to comment further.
Mr James said he had been talking about finishing with rugby this year, but the ban was the final straw, particularly the severity when he was a first offender in 60 years of rugby involvement.
''I'm disappointed to go that way,'' he said, sitting at home on Saturday afternoon while North Otago played the Southland Stags in a pre-season match.
''It's so embarrassing.''
Mr James admitted he had abused the referee and been critical about the standard of refereeing, but did not expect such a heavy penalty when ''others had received a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket''.
He was finished with rugby: ''I'll never darken the union's door again,'' he said.
Mr James has played and served with the Maheno and Athletic clubs, including as a union representative, club president, club captain, strapper-medic and other roles.
Efforts to contact Mr Fuluasou were not successful.
North Otago Referees' Association president Hamish McMurdo declined to comment on the specific incident, but said abuse of match officials would not be tolerated. The association supported the ''sound and careful process''.
''Overall, we are struggling to get young people to train as referees and anyone thinking of joining should realise we will back them fully when this sort of thing happens.''
No-one, whether players, supporters, management or officials, should have to put up with any sort of abuse at a rugby game, he said.
Athletic Marist president Mark Herron did not want to comment.
