WELLINGTON--Viewers of a grassroots rugby television programme in New Zealand received more than they bargained for Sunday when onfield play gave way to hardcore pornography.

Nearly four minutes of a porn segment were screened on the free-to-air Prime Channel before order was restored and the rugby returned.

A statement from Prime said a distribution fault had allowed "inappropriate material" from the pay-per-view Spice Channel to appear in the rugby program.

Rival Television Three reported that "parents were outraged" at the programming blunder that saw the rugby replaced by Desperate Black Wives 2.

One father said his eight-year-old son's innocence was ruined while the rival station showed a 12-year-old girl with her hands over her eyes saying "eww" and "gross."