France international Sébastien Chabal has been suspended by his club Racing-Métro 92 after an pre-published extract from his forthcoming autobiography sparked a right old rumpus.

Chabal was quoted in the Sunday newspaper Journal du Dimanche being highly critical of the level of refereeing in Top 14, going on to claim that Castres got preferential treatment because of its links with current LNR president (and former Castres president) Pierre-Yves Revol.

What initially looked like a nifty piece of PR for his autobiography - Ma Petite Etoile - quickly spun out of control, however, with Castres, the LNR and the FFR all voicing disquiet over Chabal's remarks. 

Having witnessed the brewing storm Chabal's club Racing moved to try and diffuse the situation by banning their star number eight with immediate effect. Their hope, surely, was that it would counter any ban subsequently handed down to Chabal, and thus leave him eligible for the club's forthcoming league play-offs.

A club statement said it condemned Chabal's criticism of referees, while stating that his comments should also be viewed in the full context of his book. As a result it said that Chabal had been suspended until May 11th, "or until the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the LNR".

FFR president Pierre Camou announced on Wednesday afternoon that he wanted Chabal to answer charges of bringing the game into disrepute, with the LNR duly obliging by setting a date of May 12th for his disciplinary hearing.

Revol, for his part, slammed Chabal's comments as "insulting, offensive and unacceptable". He went on: "I cannot accept, as a representative of the LNR institution that such stigma is cast upon the French referees. They are not perfect, but the essence of our sport, which is most difficult to referee, is that the players respect them."

Had Chabal left his observations to his the less controversial statement that "Top 14 referees are hopeless" he may have got away with a slap on the wrist, but his accusation that Castres and previously Biarritz have been favoured due to club reps being head of the LNR - Serge Blanco held the post before Revol - has obviously riled the establishment.

Which all adds up to fantastic publicity for Chabal's book, but perhaps not the wisest thing to be saying just a couple of weeks away from the end-of-season play-offs. The LNR, it now seems, are ready to throw their own metaphorical book straight back at the France international.

Racing already have something of a history in the ref-bashing department, with head coach Pierre Berbizier having picked up a six-week touch-line ban earlier this season after expressing his dissatisfaction with one particular ref. The genesis of that attack stemmed back to last season's play-off semi-final loss to Clermont (the eventual winners), which featured several bizarre decisions that ultimately proved hugely costly to the Paris club.

Chabal made a sort of apology on Wednesday morning - "I'm sorry it's become a polemic, I'm sorry if people have been wounded," he said in a radio interview - but it is doubtful that will be sufficient to douse his self-started fires.

Toulon are continuing to make Gavin Henson wait for official confirmation that he has been sacked.

The French media reported that the Welsh international had been given his marching orders on Tuesday, but it now appears Toulon are making sure of their legal standing before finally giving Henson his P45.

Top 14 League Table 2010/11

There seems little doubt that his playing career at the French club is effectively over, but no official announcement will now be made until Friday - despite Tuesday's reports in L'Equipe and on rugbyrama.com.

"We've had a meeting with Gavin and we'll take a bit of time to reflect before making any announcement," Toulon team manager Tom Whitford told the BBC.

Henson, 29, has played just twice for Toulon since joining in February - mostly due to a lingering calf injury - but his post-match bust-up with team-mates following victory of Stade Toulousain has made his continued presence at the club a near impossibility.

Club owner Mourad Boudjellal has already labelled the Welsh player as "difficult to manage", while rumours abound that he is unpopular within the Toulon squad due to a perceived arrogance.

But it was his open criticism of skipper Joe van Niekerk and club icon Jonny Wilkinson that has really undone Henson - along with some typically forthright comeback from feisty Australian scrum-half Matt Henjak.

Henson has also been summoned by the Wales Rugby Union to explain his behaviour, along with fellow international Andy Powell, who has also hit the headlines recently for a drink-related incident.

The WRU group which will speak to Henson includes head coach Warren Gatland and chief executive Roger Lewis.

Leading scorers in Top 14 2010/11

Australian Super 15 outfit Waratahs have denied having any contact with want-away Stade Toulousain star Frédéric Michalak.

Chris Hickey, Waratahs coach, said speculation that Michalak would be signed to replace Kurtley Beale - who is joining the Melbourne Rebels - was unfounded. "We have not talked with anyone named Michalak," said Hickey. "All these rumours come from an agent who wants to put one of his players on the market and get into negotiations with a club," he added.

Michalak has been linked with Biarritz, Bayonne, Lyon OU, Melbourne Rebels and now the Waratahs - but his future destination remains unclear at present. The France international did, however, confirm on Wednesday evening that he would be leaving Stade Toulousain.

Several transfers have been confirmed, however, with SU Agen celebrating their Top 14 survival by announcing that Sylver Tian and Dewald Senekal - who both joined during the current season - had penned new two-year deals with the club.

In addition, Agen president Alain Tingaud confirmed the arrivals of Montpellier back-rower Marc Giraud, Waratahs lock Pat O'Connor and the Hurricanes' All Blacks prop John Schwalger. He further added that he club was looking to sign a hooker, a prop and a flanker.

Elsewhere in France, Perpignan's Jacques Brunel is set to be officially confirmed as Italy's new head coach following confirmation that current incumbent Nick Mallett will not have his contract renewed after the World Cup.

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) has decided to end Mallett's reign despite the South African openly stating that he wished to continue.

"Jacques Brunel has not yet signed his contract but will be named as coach in the coming days," FIR president Giancarlo Dondi told AFP.  

In other rugby news... Brive head coach Ugo Mola has been rewarded with a new two-year contract after keeping the Limousin club in Top 14 this season. Mola's assistant Didier Casadel has also signed a new two-year extension, but chief scout Loďc Van der Linden has decided to leave.

Finally, it's been a busy few days for ProD2 outfit Pau. The Midi-Pyrenees side has sacked head coach Conrad Stoltz, replacing him with David Aucagne, currently in charge of the club's training centre and formerly backs coach of France Under-20s. Aucagne will still have forwards coach Joel Rey in his team for next season.

They have also confirmed the arrival of SCA Albi's Frédéric Manca, currently the leading scorer in this season's ProD2 championship. Manca, 31, has been signed to replace Julian Dumora, who is joining Toulon. Another Pau player on his way out is centre Grégory Puyo, 26, who has joined Bourgoin on a two-year deal.

Fellow proD2 side RC Narbonne are expected to complete the signing of Scottish prop Craig Smith, 33, from Dax this week. If Smith does sign he will join fellow new arrivals Wickus Harmse and Ed Barnes.