Toulouse and French captain Fabien Pelous has been suspended for nine weeks and will miss the Heineken Cup champions two games against Edinburgh Gunners.
The 60 times Heineken Cup capped lock faced a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday, 9 November, and was suspended for nine weeks for striking Brendan Cannon in the France v Australia international test on Saturday, 5 November.
Toulouse Head Coach Guy Noves will now have to plan without his inspirational captain for their Pool 6 Round 3 and 4 back to back fixtures against Edinburgh Gunners on 10 and 17 December respectively.
The suspension ends on Wednesday, 10 January 2006 just ahead of Toulouse's Round 5 match against 2004 Heineken Cup champions London Wasps at the 37,000 capacity "Le Stadium" in Toulouse.
Pelous, who has two Heineken Cup medals, will also miss the remaining French November international tests.