Rugby, Australian Football: Referee banned for rest of the season!

Somerset referee Kevin Obern has been banned from the game until the end of the season after appearing before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in Bristol on Tuesdau evening. Obern, who is also the Somerset Referees' Society training officer and an RFU touch judge, is charged with striking Taunton openside flanker Tim Knapp with his elbow.

The incident occurred during Taunton's Western Counties North match on November 20 against Whitehall at Hyde Park, which the home side won 17-8. Obern could have faced a lifelong ban but the panel of Rick Charles, Christopher Quinlan and Mike Rafter took into consideration mitigating circumstances claimed by the match official.

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