The Romanian Rugby Federation has imposed heavy penalties on players and officials after a spectacular brawl.

Fighting flared within minutes of the kick-off between league-leading rivals Dinamo Bucaresti and Farul Constata in Bucharest on Saturday.

The trouble erupted in a scrum just in front of the Dinamo posts, but quickly spread across the pitch and involved backs as well as forwards.

When the fighting eventually stopped, referee Bogdan Milita showed red cards to Dinamo centre Darie Curea and prop Flavius Dobre, both of whom are Romanian internationals.

On Monday, the Romanian Rugby Federation suspended two Farul players and seven from Dinamo for between seven and ten games. The Farul president and a club coach were also penalised, along with the Dinamo trainer.

When everything calmed down, the match was finished with the result ending 3-0 to Dinamo Bucaresti.

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