Stade duo apologise for ‘idiotic’ actions
Scrum-half Dupuy and prop Attoub have both been cited for eye-gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in the weekend clash at Ravenhill, which the home side won 23-13.
The duo will appear before an independent disciplinary hearing in Dublin tomorrow.
Stade announced they would be taking internal action against the duo — irrespective of the verdict from the ERC’s disciplinary committee — while the players themselves have also offered apologies.
A Stade statement read: “The club deeply regrets this situation which is detrimental to its image in the United Kingdom and wishes to apologise to the Irish province of Ulster.”
Dupuy and Attoub also released a statement on the site. It read: “It is normal that the club penalises players for actions which are idiotic and stupid. Again we apologise to the players and the Ulster club.
“Our actions were neither premeditated nor intentional. We also want to apologise to our club, players and staff for the negative image we have created.”
Brive lock Arnaud Mela and his replacement hooker team-mate Guillaume Ribes will also appear before the Dublin hearing as a result of incidents in the Heineken Cup match against London Irish at Stadium Municipal on Saturday.
Mela was cited for an alleged punch/strike on replacement London Irish hooker Danie Coetzee.
Ribes was shown a red card by referee George Clancy for kicking an opponent, in contravention of Law 10.4 (c).
Meanwhile, Ospreys wing Tommy Bowe has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Viadana counterpart Kaine Robertson during Saturday’s Heineken Cup match.
The 25-year-old Ireland international will appear before an independent disciplinary hearing “as soon as practicable” to learn his fate following the incident at the Stadio Giglio.
An ERC statement yesterday read: “The citing lodged by the citing commissioner for the match, Iain Goodall (Scotland), is for a dangerous tackle (lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body first into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground) on Viadana wing Kaine Robertson in contravention of Law 10.4 (i). The independent judicial officer will be appointed as soon as practicable.”
Elsewhere Harlequins and England scrum-half Danny Care has been handed a one-week ban by the Rugby Football Union.
Care pleaded guilty to making a dangerous tackle on Rhys Oakley when Quins met Leeds Carnegie on December 4.
A panel chaired by RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett conferred the ban, back-dated to December 10 — the date he was suspended by the club, missing the home defeat to Sale Sharks on Sunday.
As he is eligible to play again on December 17 and Harlequins next fixture is not until Sunday, December 20, he will not miss any additional fixtures.
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