A RUGBY player who allegedly shoved a referee to the ground will never play for his club again and could face a life ban from the sport.

Club bosses at West Hartlepool Tech yesterday said forward Chris Ward has been suspended indefinitely for pushing referee Mike Hodgson in the chest and face.

He is expected to go before a disciplinary panel of the Durham County RFU which may decide to ban him for life.

The fracas erupted when Ward was sent off in the 61st minute of a match with Gateshead at the weekend.

Witnesses claimed he shoved the 47-year-old referee to the ground. In the ensuing melee, two more Hartlepool Tech players were sent off and the game was abandoned.

John Dove, chairman of West Hartlepool TDSOB, or Tech as the team is known locally, confirmed Ward's days at the club are over.

He said: "The club has suspended Chris ward for an indefinite period. In other words, he will not play for the club again.

"Chris himself admitted that what he did was out of order and he is ashamed about it. He has apologised to the club and the referee.

"It is something the club is devastated about."

The player's future plight is now in the hands of the RFU disciplinary panel which could ban him for between 12 months and life.

Philip Inman, the honorary secretary of the panel, said: "We have just received the referee's report and will soon convene a panel.

"According the RFU guidelines, he could face a ban of between 12 and 24 months for threatening behaviour towards a match official.

"For physical abuse of a match official a player could receive a ban between two years and the rest of his life. The usual punishment is around five years for this type of offence."

Tech were trailing 6-0 when the game was abandoned and that result is expected to stand.