Manawatu referee Paul Van Deventer is back on the field after a punch from an angry player knocked him senseless in July.
He suffered a broken nose, needed stitches for a cut and had a headache.
Freyberg Bs player Pama Paisami, who punched Van Deventer, has copped a life ban from the sport, but is unlikely to go to jail over the incident.
"I remember being punched because it stunned me and then I was knocked out because I woke up with the medics around me," says Van Deventer.
"There are consequences obviously for [Paisami]. He's not allowed to play rugby anymore, which I think is big. I remember from my rugby-playing days the social side that goes with it, it's huge."
The assault happened in the same week as an awareness campaign that intended to draw attention to sideline abuse of players and officials.
At the time, the campaign was criticised for using actors. But Van Deventer says it is all too real.
"Questioning me is fine. From the sidelines when they start calling you names, which happens, 'eff you, eff this', that sort of thing - that's not really cool."
So was that ugly assault a sign that we - as a society - have a problem?
"I think it's just one person," says Van Deventer. "If it was the culture we're living in we'd see a lot more of that sort of thing and we don't. Those are one-offs but the problem is they're such big one-offs they have a big effect on the community."
But he says the crowd isn't always well behaved.
"It hurts more when it comes from a coach or a player afterwards. Spectators are generally pretty good about it, but that hurts.
"You go home and think, really, you've just spoiled my weekend. Do I really want to go and spend six hours next Saturday in my time doing it?"
Like other officials, Van Deventer doesn't get paid, not that everyone appreciates or even knows that.
"People need to remember it's not a professional industry for us, that they need to give us that understanding or respect back that I feel I give to players and spectators and coaches."
He knows someone is always going to be happy, and someone's not. That's the game.
"It's in my blood. I love rugby, and I love being involved in it."
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