An entire rugby team has been banned from playing for two weeks after a violent match had to be abandoned by the referee.

Fifteen players from Gloucestershire County Cup holders Spartans have been suspended for 14 days from January 25th.

The decision to bar all the players, who played against Forest of Dean club Cinderford on December 19th, was taken by the Gloucestershire RFU disciplinary committee.

Cornish referee Phillip Ware had already sent off two Spartans players, Bobby Fowke and Stuart Brazil, when he finally called a halt to the ill-tempered affair after just 35 minutes.

A Gloucestershire RFU spokesman said they had decided that all the Spartans players on the field should be suspended, but there would be no action against Cinderford.

Fowke, a flanker who has played for Gloucester, and prop-forward Brazil, have been banned for 35 days for their part in the violence. Spartans have also suspended Fowke from the club.