THE Zambia Rugby Football Union (ZRFU) has, with immediate effect, suspended Red Arrows assistant coach Louis Mwansa and two players from all rugby activities for misconduct.

Mwansa and players, MacManus Musonda and Tuba Luhanga were suspended for allegedly causing the abandonment of the 2012 Buildcon-ZRFU National League match between "Men at Work" Diggers and Red Arrows in Kitwe two weeks ago.

Mwansa has subsequently been expelled from attending this weekend's International Rugby Board (IRB) Level Two Sevens course in Ndola.

ZRFU general secretary, Francis Chitambo in a statement yesterday said Musonda and Luhanga exhibited misconduct towards the appointed referee Danny Mulenga and touch judge, Oliver Mulenga.

The ZRFU executive committee that met on Saturday, September 15 at Ndola Wanderers Club, also ruled that despite the abandonment of the game, Diggers be awarded points because Red Arrows erred by walking off the pitch before the final whistle with the hosts leading 29-9.

The suspension letter to Mwansa reads in part: "The Union is in receipt of a report which was written by Danny Mulenga, a referee who officiated at the match between Diggers and Arrows on Saturday, September 8, 2012, in which you are alleged to have walked on the pitch and ordered your players to leave the field of play.

"Please take notice that your conduct as outlined above amounts to a very serious breach of the disciplinary code of conduct and the ZRFU constitution and is an act of gross misconduct on your part. As such, I am left with no option but to request you to submit an exculpatory statement indicating why disciplinary action should not be taken against you.

Your exculpatory statement should reach my office within seven days from the date of this letter. Since this matter borders on indiscipline, I am further suspending you from all rugby activities until investigations into your alleged misconduct are concluded and the matter is disposed of."

Part of Musonda's suspension letter dated September 18, 2012 reads: "The Union is in receipt of a report which was written by Danny Mulenga, a referee, who officiated the match between Diggers and Arrows on Saturday, September 8, 2012 in which you are alleged to have insulted him and this resulted in him sending you off.

Please take notice that your conduct as outlined above amounts to a very serious breach of the disciplinary code of conduct and the ZRFU constitution and is an act of gross misconduct on your part. As such, I am left with no option but to request you to submit an exculpatory statement indicating why disciplinary action should not be taken against you."

Luhanga's letter reads in part "The Union is in receipt of a report which was written by Danny Mulenga, a referee who officiated the match between Diggers and Arrows on Saturday, September 8 2012 in which you are alleged to have poured water from a bottle on the Touch Judge by the name of Oliver Mulenga and you further pelted the same bottle at the said Touch Judge.

Since this matter borders on indiscipline, I am further suspending you from all rugby activities until investigations into your alleged misconduct are concluded and the matter is disposed of."

Chitambo said after studying the reports from the referee who handled the game, it was established that Arrows erred by forcing the abandonment after walking away from the field of play before full-time irrespective of their grievances, adding that it was further felt that Arrows should have finished the game and thereafter lodge in a complaint unlike what transpired.

"It was resolved that Diggers be awarded full points because the abandonment of play by Arrows was uncalled for and also considering that at the time of the abandonment of the game, Diggers were leading by 22 to 9 and with only 6 minutes left before full time," Chitambo said.