Just when we thought his time in the spotlight was over, 'Caveman' Sebastien Chabal has hit the headlines for this knockout blow on number eight Marc Giraud during the ProD2 match between Lyon and Agen at the weekend. Giraud was carried off on a stretcher.
Now aged 36, the former French icon is still playing rugby, plying his trade with Lyon in France's second division. He built a reputation for not only looking like one of the scariest men in the sport, but playing like it too, famously breaking Ali Williams' jaw and knocking out Chris Masoe.
Not too long ago he announced that this would be his final season of rugby due to his body starting to feel the aches and pains that come with playing professionally for so long. He clearly hasn't lost any of the competitive spirit though, as was seen, and felt by Agen eighthman Giraud.
Giraud appeared to hold Chabal back - a common annoyance for loose forwards - but the reaction was probably a little disproportionate as the burly Frenchman swung what initially looked like a slap with a straight arm. The result made it seem more like a punch, as Giraud was knocked out cold.
He was carried off the field in a stretcher before coming around in the changeroom, then was taken off to hospital after there were fears that he had broken his jaw. They later found that it was fine, although he did injure his ankle when he fell, unconcious.
Chabal was promptly shown a yellow card after the touch judges alerted the referee, so he left the field for ten minutes, but protested his innocence on the way off. He will no doubt face a disciplinary hearing in a fortnight, and could be out of rugby for quite some time with a lengthy suspension.
Agen showed the incident to the referee post match, and he admitted that it should have been a red card. "I am furious with the referee who did not show a red card," said Agen's Alain Tingaud.
Giraud later tweeted: "It's not too bad, thanks for the support. I'll sleep well."
Lenghty ban for Seabass? Also, do you think that those that hold other players back like this should be penalised, or is it one of those things that is too difficult to monitor? Suggestions welcome!
Sebastien Chabal may have said last month that he is retiring at the end of the season because his body was suffering but he shows no sign of wanting to go quietly.
He faces a long ban after a right hook knocked out Agen's Marc Giraud in an off-the-ball incident during the Saturday night match. Giraud appeared to hold on to Chabal's shirt as the ball broke from a ruck and received a hard punch for his pains. He was carried off on a stretcher.
The incident was missed by the referee but spotted by a touch judge. Chabal protested his innocence and seemed nonplussed to be sent off; replays suggested he was extremely fortunate to escape with a yellow card but he is unlikely to have heard the last of it.
Alain Tingaud, Agen's president, said he would be referring the incident to the league's disciplinary committee. "I am furious with the referee who did not show a red card. He admitted he made a mistake It was a red."
Giraud later took to his Twitter account to reassure followers he was fine and "would sleep well".
Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/story/209113.html#C2B4M1jkjCBJxcEB.99
credit: rugbyrama and gorpitsenjunior