Rugby linesman kicks defenceless player

Linesmen are supposed to officiate over foul play.

But a rugby union touch judge has landed in hot water after becoming the perpetrator during a recent match in Germany.

Standing on the sideline as a ruck erupted into a scuffle just metres away, the touchie stepped toward one of the players, who was prone on the ground and pinned down by a rival before laying the boot into the defenceless victim.

Other players quickly reacted to the sly kick with the linesman briefly embroiled in the scuffle before he was dragged away by officials.

On face value the kick and motivation behind the touch judge's involvement is hard to comprehend.

However, it appears the linesman had a vested interest with reports emerging he was, in fact, a player from the rival team, who was standing in as a touch judge because no match officials were available for the club game.

The ugly incident is sure to land the man in hot water with a potential assault charge on top of a lengthy suspension.

Talk about landing a cheap shot.