Dupuy’s season over as suspension cut by just one week
PARIS (AFP)
Stade Francais scrum-half Julien Dupuy’s season came to a premature end on Wednesday when his appeal to an independent appeals committee against a 24-week suspension for gouging was only reduced by a week, according to his club president Max Guazzini.
The 26-year-old - capped six times - had received the original punishment on December 18 on being found guilty of gouging Ulster’s Irish international backrow forward Stephen Ferris in their European Cup clash on December 12.
European Rugby Cup, the organising body of the European Cup, confirmed the reduction of the suspension for Dupuy, who is in his first season for Stade having had an outstanding spell at English Premiership club LeiCester Tigers.
“The initial decision was mistaken in terms of the length of the ban on a technicality,” read a statement by the appeals committee.
“In conclusion the original decision should be adjusted and consequently the suspension reduced by a week.
“Mister Dupuy is suspended for 23 weeks. He can recommence playing on May 27.”
However, whilst reducing the suspension by a minimal amount the committee made no bones about how serious they thought his offence was.
“The offence is at the top end in the level of seriousness for an offence of this type,” they said.
Stade president Max Guazzini was furious at the decision but took solace from the fact that fault had been found with the initial judgement.
“The appeals committee conceded that Judge Blackett (who handed down the first judgement) had made a mistake and reduced the suspension to 23 weeks,” said Guazzini.
However, Guazzini said he intended to try and have it reduced still further at least in domestic terms through the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the National Rugby League (LNR).
“This suspension is totally unjustified, the Irish player even originally testified that it wasn’t a case of gouging,” said Guazzini.
Should Guazzini fail with an appeal to the FFR and LNR it would mean that Dupuy would return just two days before the final of the Top 14 championship - something which Stade Francais are struggling to even make the play-offs for at the moment.
Dupuy’s Stade Francais team-mate prop David Attoub will have to wait till Friday to learn his fate over accusations that he too had also gouged Ferris during the same match, after the ERC said they needed time to go over the evidence.
His defence is based on doubts over the accuracy of the incriminating photograph.
“If it turns out to be an anti-sporting offence the punishment will be announced at a later date,” said the ERC, who were hearing Attoub’s case for the first time.
A third hearing for a French player, Perpignan prop Jerome Schuster over headbutting a Munster player had to be put off to a later date as he was unable to travel to England because of the severe weather.