Stade Francais' Argentine international Juan Manuel Leguizamon has been banned for 80 days after being found guilty of eye-gouging.

Leguizamon was suspended after appearing before the LNR's Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday, and becomes the third Stade player - after Julien Dupuy and David Attoub - to be banned for eye-gouging.

The back row international was cited after Stade's recent Top 14 defeat at Stade Toulousain on August 28th, when he was alleged to have "made contact with the eyes or eye area" of Jean Bouilhou.

The 27-year-old had faced the possibility of a ban between 80 days and three years, so his punishment is the least that could have been given after being found guilty.

Bouilhou had sent a letter to the commission to exonerate Leguizamon of the charge, but the 31-times capped international was still suspended.

His loss will be a major blow to Stade Francais, and caps a bad few days for the club after they lost at home to Brive on Saturday.

Leguizamon, who has already picked up three yellow cards this season, will now miss Argentina's November internationals as well as Stade's league and Heineken Cup games for the next 80 days.

Also up before the disciplinary beak today was Toulon's forwards coach Aubin Hueber, following comments he made to match officials during his team's home defeat by Racing-Métro on August 27th. He was banned for 10 days.

Racing-Métro head coach Pierre Berbizier, meanwhile, has been summoned by the LNR's disciplinary committee to explain his pre-weekend comments about referee Christophe Berdos.

Berdos took charge of Racing's weekend win against La Rochelle - an appointment which Berbizier described as "provocation", and one which gave him "no pleasure".

The root of Berbizier's discontent stemmed from last season's play-off quarter-final against Clermont Auvergne, which Berdos also officiated. The Racing coach was scathing in his post-match comments about Berdos on that occasion - due to some controversial decisions - although on that occasion he escaped censure by the LNR.

The league's Disciplinary Committee is unlikely to be so lenient this time around, however, with Berbizier now due to be up before them on September 29.

Top 14 League Table

Elsewhere in Top 14, confusion continues to surround the playing future of Fiji international Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Last week his club SU Agen announced that he was being released after the player missed the entire pre-season as well as the club's first four league games.

Although he is now in France - having claimed he stayed on in Fiji to get treatment from a "natural healer" - it became clear that Agen had run out of patience with the 30-year-old and were willing to off-load him last week. Several Top 14 clubs immediately made their interest known in signing the highly talented winger - who was the leading try-scorer in ProD2 last season - with Castres reported to be on the verge of sealing a deal.

But now the player's agent has claimed that 'Caucau' wants to stay at Agen, and that if they really do want to off-load him they will have to sack him rather than merely releasing him. In response Agen president Alain Tingaud admitted the player remains under contract with the Top 14 newcomers, while reports in the French press claim the club is seeking a payment of €150,000 from any potential suitors.

"He is still under contract and we are discussing with him the conditions of release. I say release, not dismissal, and I have nothing further to report," Tingaud told Midi Olympique.

Leading try and point-scorers in Top 14

Brive are counting the cost of their excellent away win at Stade Francais at the weekend with English scrum-half Shaun Perry now unlikely to feature at Castres on Saturday after damaging a calf. Pat Barnard and Scott Spedding are also set to miss out, but winger Viliame Waqaseduadua could make his comeback if he passes a fitness test this week.

Stade Toulousain duo William Servat and Sylvain Nicolas could also be out of action at the weekend after picking up injuries in their 25-20 defeat at Biarritz. Servat, who scored his fourth try of the season against the Basques, has a minor sprain of the medial ligament in his right knee, while Nicolas is definitely out after an MRI scan revealed a serious sprain of his left knee. Although there was no ruptured ligaments - as first feared - Nicolas is likely to be out for up to two months.

Another high-profile weekend injury victim was Racing-Métro fly-half Juan Martin Hernández. The Argentine international limped off with a thigh problem during the team's home win against La Rochelle, although the extent of his injury has yet to be confirmed.

"It may be the price to pay for playing three consecutive matches," lamented head coach Berbizier. 

Hernández joined Racing in the summer from South African side Natal Sharks, but he missed the opening weeks of the season as he regained fitness following back surgery which severely curtailed his playing time last season.

The high-flying Parisians, meanwhile, have announced that will not now be playing their city rivals Stade Francais at the 80,000 Stade de France. Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti laid the blame squarely at the door of Stade president Max Guazzini, claiming the latter had failed to provide an oral agreement about the switch. "I regret it because the Parisians had wanted to see a big derby," added Lorenzetti.

Racing are now looking at the possibility of playing a different Top 14 match at the Stade de France, with their home game against Stade Toulousain now the likely target.

Perpignan's troubled start to the season continues with Rimas Alvarez Kairelis the latest player to be sidelined by injury. The Argentine second row sprained his left knee in the Catalans unconvincing 27-20 home win against basement club Bourgoin at the weekend, and is now expected to be out for up to six weeks.

On a better note for the 2009 champions several players on their lengthy crock list have now resumed training, with Yohan Vivalda, Jeoffrey Michel and Charles Geli all easing themselves back after injury. Veteran fly-half Manny Edmonds is also on the comeback trail. although the club said they didn't expect to see him back in action until September 26 - when they play Edmonds' former side (and current league leaders) Bayonne.

Bayonne travel to European champions Stade Toulousain at the weekend, with the home team's long-serving coach Guy Noves being typically coy with his comments to the press.

Noves, who admitted to frustration after Stade's third successive away defeat at the weekend, told reporters: "Our goal will be to hang on. Bayonne are full of confidence. We will try to work on our recovery and try to do what we can against the leaders and maybe take a losing bonus point," he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Bayonne president Francois Salagoity, meanwhile, described his team's current standing as "anecdotal" after their excellent start to the 2010/11 season. Bayonne beat defending French champions Clermont 18-16 at the weekend to make it five wins from six. but Salagoity said their first priority this season remained avoiding relegation after last year's troubles.

"After six matches we have 21 points. We're halfway towards staying up. We must remain and keep our feet on the ground," he told Sudouest.

Salagoity is also keeping an open mind on whether the club will sign a 'medical joker' as cover for injured prop Renaud Boyoud. The front-rower suffered a dislocated left shoulder during Friday night's win against Clermont and if surgery is required he could be out for up to six months.

Centre Thibault Lacroix, meanwhile has agreed a new two-year deal with the Basques and is expected to put pen to paper this week.