Concerns have been raised after Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union cancelled a series of Saturday matches.

The provincial union made the call after the abuse of a referee at last Saturday's game between Kapiti College and Mana College, which saw him escorted to his car out of safety fears.

NZ Rugby's Mike Hester says there was abuse from spectators that prompted the match getting called off.

"A lot of these things can happen on the sideline with chat from spectators to coaches and the like. The details of it - again, it depends on who you talk to - but certainly, it was sufficient enough that the referee had to make a decision." 

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