Andrew Kitchener, brother of England international Graham, was sent off in the closing minutes of Worcester's 36-13 defeat to Bristol Bears on Friday night.
The second row came on as a replacement in the match and was right in the thick of it when tempers flared late on.
Things got heated when Bristol's Siale Piutau got tangled with Worcester's Ted Hill on the ground after making a particularly dominant tackle.
The tussle broke up and, when play stopped, Kitchener set his sights on the centre.
Words were exchanged before Kitchener threw, and missed, with a right hand and the pair tumbled to ground. A melee ensued as players rushed in.
He then found himself on top of Piutau, throwing two more punches that appeared to connect. At least that's how referee Wayne Barnes viewed, leaving him with no choice.
Without having to consult with his TMO, Barnes deemed Kitchener's actions worthy of a red card and he was sent off.
"It's a punch to the face," said Barnes, explaining his decision.
The official Bristol Bears Twitter account described it as a 'cheap shot'.
There were suggestions that Piutau connected with a punch of his own after Kitchener's initial swipe but he was only shown a yellow card for his part in inciting the scuffle in the first place.
Piutau didn't return, though, as there was only a minute or so remaining on the clock.
