Tackle of the year: Pitch invader at rugby union match is absolutely DESTROYED 

A New Zealand security guard has thrown his hat in the ring for the most brutal tackle on a pitch invader with a crunching blow during Friday night’s contest at Eden Park.

A pitchside official landed himself in hot water on the Gold Coast after forcefully taking down a female invader in the NRL, with rugby league trying to contend with a glut of unwelcome intruders in recent weeks.

Over in Super Rugby, another fan brought play to an abrupt halt during Friday’s game between Blues and Rebels, but was met by a heavy tackle that stopped him in his track.

The shirtless male, running on the pitch in bare feet, slipped as he avoided one steward before being hit side-on by a second security guard he did not see coming.

The pitch invader, running in barefoot, entered the slippery pitch and evaded one official

But he was hit hard by a blindside tackle that got the crowd off their feet at Eden Park

Video footage from a supporter showed fans reacting to the devastating tackle on Friday night 

The NRL has been hit by a number of pitch invasions this season, with one fan realising her ‘life-long dream’ to enter the field of play. Javon Johanson, 28, was dumped by her boyfriend the following day.

Ms Johanson was labelled by her then-boyfriend as a ‘disgrace’ and ’embarrassment’ after she ran onto the field and disrupted play during the Titans’ loss to the Parramatta Eels on April 9.

Match footage shows the Titans fan dodging one security guard before she was chased down by tackled by another while players watched on. 

 A woman was dumped by her boyfriend after streaking onto the pitch earlier this season

Johanson was later charged over the stunt and pleaded guilty to entering a major sports facility without permission when she appeared in Southport Magistrates Court today.

Her lawyer, Campbell MacCallum, told the court his client was subject to extensive shame and ridicule after footage of the incident ‘went global’, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

‘She has been the subject of some fairly distasteful trolling,’ he said.

 A climate protester copped a three-month sentence after disrupting a game earlier this month

That same week, the Tigers’ game against the Sharks was disrupted by climate protesters, with one copping a three-month jail sentence and $440 fine for carrying a flare onto the pitch.

Andy George, 32, pleaded guilty to two offences at Sutherland Local Court on Monday, resulting in a three-month jail term. He has also copped a $440 fine. 

George was charged with entering enclosed land without lawful excuse and possess a bright light distress signal in a public place.