Top 14: Julien Dupuy gets one week
reduction; Bayonne change coaches again
14 January 2010
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Penalty: Julien Dupuy was given
a one-week ban reduction
Photo: Michael Paler |
Stade
Francais scrum-half Julien Dupuy has had his
24-week ban for eye-gouging
reduced by one week on appeal.
The
France international will now miss the rest of the season
following Wednesday's decision by the ERC's independent
appeal committee, while team-mate David Attoub - who faces a
similar charge - will have to wait until Friday to find out
his fate.
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Dupuy's
lengthy ban stems from an incident - caught on television -
during Stade's Heineken Cup match with Ulster on December
12. He subsequently admitted his guilt in eye-gouging Ulster
flanker Stephen Ferris but had appealed in the hope his ban
would be significantly reduced.
Stade
Francais president Max Guazzini described Dupuy's original
ban as "anti-French" and "political", and he was no less
annoyed by the appeal decision.
"It is a
very heavy sanction. He [Ferris] said there was no gouging.
The fact that Dupuy is French probably played a role," he
said after Wednesday's hearing. And he also indicated that
the club will continue to fight the ban through France's
domestic governing bodies - the FFR and the LNR. "This
suspension is totally unjustified," he complained.
The
ERC's appeal committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar
(of Scotland), made the one-week reduction after concluding
Dupuy "had demonstrated that the original decision been in
error only in a limited technical manner". An ERC statement
also confirmed that Dupuy's actions had been "at the top end
in the level of seriousness".
Dupuy,
26, will now be eligible to start playing again on May 27,
meaning he will miss the rest of the Top 14 season as well
the forthcoming Six Nations championship.
Attoub
was also accused of eye-gouging Ferris but his original
hearing was delayed after questions were raised over the
authenticity of an incriminating photograph allegedly
capturing the incident. The ERC heard further evidence on
the matter on Wednesday but said any sanction would be
announced on Friday. "If it turns out to be an anti-sporting
offence the punishment will be announced at a later date,"
confirmed an ERC statement.
Perpignan prop Jérôme Schuster had also been due to
attend Wednesday's hearing to face charges of an alleged
head-butt in the Heineken Cup match against Munster on
December 20, but the player was unable to attend due to
weather-related travel delays. His hearing was postponed.
Back in
France, Top 14 strugglers Bayonne are now on to their
third set of coaches this season after sacking Thierry
Mentières and Jean-Philippe Coyola.
The duo
had only stepped up after Richard Dourthe was similarly
sacked in November, but with results failing to improve and
Bayonne still in the relegation zone the club's Francis
Salagoity has wielded the axe once more.
He is
now expected to announce the appointment of experienced
coach Christian Gajan, 52, as Bayonne desperately seek
someone to lift them from their current malaise and avoid
the unpalatable prospect of relegation to ProD2.
Gajan
has previously coached Stade Toulousain, Rodez, Castres, the
Czech Republic national side as well as having spells in
both Italy and Japan.
His
first game in charge will be Bayonne's weekend Amlin
Challenge Cup clash with fellow French outfit Racing-Métro
92.
In other
news, South African fly-half Conrad Barnard has left
French side Toulon. The 30-year-old was signed last season
but has struggled to feature in 2009/10 following the
acquisition of both Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi.
He has
only started one match this season and will now return to
South Africa, where he may rejoin Griqualand.
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