Fillol facing disciplinary rap as Stringer enraged by spit incident

Stade Francais’ Jerome Fillol looks set to become the first professional player to be cited for spitting at an opponent.

Television cameras caught the French scrum-half spitting in the face of former Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer during the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at The Rec on Saturday.

Stringer admitted to being “disgusted and angry” at the incident which marred his side’s defeat.

European Rugby Cup officials will investigate the complaint that could see Fillol facing a lengthy ban.

“That’s never happened to me before in my career and there’s no place for it in rugby,” Stringer said.

“It’s about as low as anyone can possibly go and I’m still a bit raw after being on the receiving end of it. I was a bit rattled for a while but then you try not to dwell on it. It’s out of my hands now.”

Bath have made a formal complaint over the incident during the first half of Stade’s 36-20 win.

“Peter is very angry. I didn’t see the incident but I would be disappointed, as I’m sure everyone would be, if it’s proved to be true because there’s no place for it at all,” said Bath coach Toby Booth.

Bath prop Paul James added: “The guy spat in his [Stringer’s] face. It was disgusting.”

Stade Francais declined to comment and claimed they were unaware of the incident when they left the ground on Saturday.

Under the International Rugby Board regulation 10.4 (l), the offence carries a four-week suspension for what is regarded a “low” end incident, rising to seven to mid-level and a at least 11 weeks, with a maximum of 52 weeks, for the worst offenders.

In December 2011, Uttoxeter wing Paul Millward, 28, was banned for a year by the RFU for spitting at a female spectator during a bad-tempered Midlands 3 West (north) clash against Stourbridge Lions.

Millward was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interest of the Union and/or the game.

Last month England flanker Tom Croft denied he had spat at Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny during their RBS Six Nations tie in Cardiff following allegations on Twitter. Halfpenny later denied any such incident.

As well as shocking, the incident at Bath was surprising as it was out of character from 35-year-old Fillol, among the most experienced players in Europe having made his first Heineken Cup appearance 15 years ago for Toulouse.

However, fellow rugby stars rounded on the Frenchman. World Cup winner Will Greenwood said Twitter: “Fillol, good player but when you spit you cross a line. Disgrace.”

And Harlequins and England wing Ugo Monye said: “Jerome Fillol is a disgrace. To spit at someone’s face anywhere, let alone on the rugby pitch, is disgusting. Hope he gets banned for a long time.”

Stade’s victory leaves Leinster as the sole non-French team in the Amlin Cup semi-finals which will be played on the weekend of April 26, 27, 28. The other teams remaining are Perpignan and Biarritz.