Montpellier and France international Rugby player Mohamed Haouas has been convicted of domestic violence.
Haouas has been handed a one-year prison sentence after appearing in a Montpellier court following a public attack on his wife.
The incident adds to a list of indictments that includes an incident from 2014 of aggravated assault and destruction of property. The prop was also handed an 18-month suspended sentence for receiving a stolen card and for taking part in a series of robberies of tobacconists in April 2014.
France’s FFR Rugby Federation released a statement condemning the incident, saying:
"The behaviour of Mohamed Haouas is inadmissible and incompatible with representing our country at international level," said the FFR.
Serge Simon, the federation vice-president in charge of the national teams added: "Mohammed Haouas' conduct is contrary to the principles that underpin our sport and our national team.
"Firmness is our duty in such circumstances."
"Mohamed went though a difficult childhood," Haouas' lawyer, Marc Gallix, was quoted as saying. "He grew up in a tough neighborhood, and scars of the behavior he had when he lived there remain.
"It's difficult because he's managed to settle professionally, but you don't forget those bad childhood reflexes that easily. I think he needs psychotherapy and treatment. What he did on Friday was inadmissible, but that doesn't mean he deserved to go to prison."
Having recently signed for Clermont, his contract with the club has been torn up as they confirmed he will never wear their famous yellow and blue.
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