Noves apologises for post-match police clash

Guy Noves yesterday guided Toulouse to a record third European Cup victory - then apologised after getting led away by police during his side’s celebrations.

Noves’ side narrowly beat their French rivals Stade Francais in a disappointing Heineken Cup final at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, with Frederic Michalak kicking two penalties and a drop-goal to secure an 18-12 victory over their French rivals.

The victory, however, was overshadowed by Noves getting led away after attempting to make contact with family and colleagues in the crowd.

Noves said: “I would like to apologise to the people who tried to intervene. This is not what Toulouse is about and it is not what I am about.”

Noves was taken to a police room inside the stadium and later released without charge, after police officers stepped in to restrain the Toulouse coach during a confrontation with stewards.

He added through an interpreter: “I just wanted to give a kiss to my wife and my son. An important official who is very close to the team wanted to join me and the team and I asked the stewards if this was okay – that is when the misunderstanding happened and the supporters got involved.”

European Rugby Cup chief executive Derek McGrath played down the incident after the game and described it as the result of “100 minutes of passionate rugby”.

“Things got a little bit out of hand and Guy was taken away to calm the situation down,” McGrath said. “There was just a big misunderstanding.”

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked the other points for Toulouse, while David Skrela’s four penalties accounted for Stade’s points.

Stade coach Fabien Galthie thought his team had the game closed out with five minutes of normal time to play, before Michalak’s penalty took the game into extra-time.

Galthie said: “After 75 minutes we were three points ahead and everything was going well. But we have to congratulate Toulouse, I don’t think they have stolen the match. It went down to two or three details when we didn’t manage very well.”