Police are investigating after trouble erupted at the end of the Under-12s clash in Salford.
A 61-year-old man was taken to hospital after trying to separate two brawling parents.
They clashed after Langworthy Reds lost 20-12 to Halton Farnworth Hornets from Widnes.
The home team had recovered from a 12-0 half-time deficit to level the scores but were beaten by two late tries.
But a `contentious' decision by the referee led to verbal abuse on the sidelines between angry spectators, which boiled over at the final whistle.
The parents - from opposing sides - squared up to each other. The victim jumped in to break up the row but was punched in the face and taken to Hope Hospital with a gashed head.
Police were called and say their inquiries are ongoing.
The fracas took place at around 11.30am on Sunday at the Reds' Bolton Road home in Pendlebury.
Witnesses were divided on who was to blame.
One said: "One of the Halton lot came over to Langworthy's side of the touchline after the match and thumped one the parents. His dad then tried to stop him from hitting his son again and was punched as well. A few of the kids were hurt as they tried to get out of the way.
"They should be ashamed of themselves. They were told the police had been called and they scarpered back to Widnes."
A Langworthy Reds spokesman said they had launched an internal probe.
He said: "We'll pursue it through the relevant channels. At the end of the day a 61-year-old man has come to watch his grandson play rugby and has ended up being assaulted. We need to get to the bottom of it. But we've no complaints with the result. Halton deserved their victory."
A Hornets spokesman said: "One of our parents was separated from everyone by four parents from Langworthy and then this happened. Everyone from our club was pretty shaken up by what had gone on."
A spokesman for the North West Counties Amateur Rugby League said they were aware of the incident but could not comment while police were investigating.
A police spokesman said: "Officers were called following reports a man had been assaulted. They discovered a 61-year-old man had been hit on the head after trying to separate two others involved in a fight.
"He was taken to hospital by ambulance with a gash to the front of his head. Inquiries into the incident are continuing."
mike.keegan@men-news.co.uk
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All those involved should hang their heads in shame, your behaviour wouldn't be expected from the children you went to watch.
Great way to teach your kids!!! if you can't win fairly have a fight!!! PATHETIC!!! hope the ref recovers quickly
Why are children and teens these days so nasty and aggressive?
Because they do as adults do not as adults say.
Children grow up to be just like their parents.If their parents are nasty agressive people their children wont grow up like the nice chap who lives down the road.
They will be just like the parents by the age of 7 if not before.
That's the second attack on an aged person in this area I've read about on these pages within a few days. Greedy vultures who want their little darlings to be rich and famous, and sport is just the means to that end.
Typical Salford behaviour. It doesn't surprise me one bit.
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Teesicha, Planet Earth
If you would have read the storey it is apparent that the attacking person was from widnes, a number of years we were playing in widnes and the widnes captain was sent off for trying to kill members of my team. When he reached the touchline he prompty punched a small shorted sighted fan of ours breaking his glasses and a tooth. So really this was typical Widnes behaviour. Just sad that this goes on at kids matches which should be for fun, too many people playing out their own lives through that of their kids.