Stade pair apologise after gouging

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David Attoub and Julien Dupuy today apologised for their conduct during Stade Francais' Heineken Cup clash with Ulster on Saturday.

Scrum-half Dupuy and prop Attoub have both been cited for eye-gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in the weekend clash at Ravenhill which the home side won 23-13.

Stade announced they would be taking internal action against the duo - irrespective of the verdict from the ERC's disciplinary committee - while the players themselves have also offered apologies.

A Stade statement read: "The club deeply regrets this situation which is detrimental to its image in the United Kingdom and wishes to apologise to the Irish province of Ulster."

Dupuy and Attoub also released a statement on http://www.stade.fr. It read: "It is normal that the club penalises players for actions which are idiotic and stupid.

"Again we apologise to the players and the Ulster club.

"Our actions were neither premeditated nor intentional.

"We also want to apologise to our club, players and staff for the negative image we have created."

The ERC announced Attoub would appear before an independent disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday, December 17 as a result of his citing from the Ulster match.