WATCH: Aussie teen strikes referee, gets 10-year ban!

Cape Town - An Australian teenager has received a 10-year ban after striking a referee during an Under-19 match.

Video footage showed 18-year-old Mark Meafua striking 19-year-old-referee Niklas Gaal during Maitland's 28-3 loss to the Newcastle Wanderers in the NSW Hunter region last Saturday.

Meafua had been involved in a scuffle after Maitland objected to a dangerous tackle by the Newcastle Wanderers.

Meafua was about to be shown a red card for striking a player with an elbow when he lashed out at the referee.

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, Meafua was arrested at his home in Rutherford on the Saturday night and charged with common assault.

He will appear in the Maitland Local Court on October 4.

Meafua, who was ironically set to receive the award for the best and fairest player in the Under-19 competition, was given a 10-match ban for the red card - and a 10-year ban for assaulting the referee.

WATCH the incident in the tweet below:

DIRTY DECADE: 18-year-old rugby union player slapped with 10-year ban for THIS disgusting attack on a ref.
STORY: https://t.co/tn4AqeaGS3 pic.twitter.com/KVa950bfck

— TEN Eyewitness News (@channeltennews) September 7, 2017