Title-holders Bordeaux-Begles will be without two key figures on and off the field in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Bath.
The defending champions have been dealt a blow with the news that prop Jefferson Poirot is ruled out after picking up a two-week ban for a high tackle.
Poirot, who was capped 36 times by France, was handed an orange card for a head-on-head tackle with Valentin Welsch during the defeat by Montpellier in the Top 14 match last week.
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The LNR, the body that runs professional rugby union in France, announced a two-week ban on Wednesday, which includes matches in the Champions Cup.
Poirot will also miss the Top 14 match at Bayonne on May 9. Either Matis Perchaud or Ugo Boniface are considered the likeliest replacement for him.
Another absentee for the knockout clash is Bordeaux head coach Yannick Bru.
He will be unable to take his place in the dugout after being punished for “lacking respect for the authority of a match official” due to remarks he made about the fourth official following the 45-15 thrashing by La Rochelle in the game preceding the Montpellier match.
Agence France-Presse
Photo: INPHO/James Crombie
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