Bamford gives version of events

The Ulster supporter involved in an incident with Toulouse secondrow Trevor Brennan has issued a statement through a Belfast PR agency. Patrick Bamford was on the receiving end of several punches thrown by the player after Brennan responded to chants from a section of visiting supporters at Sunday's Heineken European Cup match in Toulouse.

According to the statement, the 25-year-old London-based accountant decided to offer his thoughts in response to an official release on the Toulouse club's website and comments made on an RTÉ radio programme on Monday.

Bamford's statement read: "There has been an attempt to justify the unexpected and still unexplained actions of Trevor Brennan which resulted in a serious assault on me. I cannot accept that any circumstances can justify his violence.

"I categorically deny that at any point that I or anyone sitting around me was involved in sectarian abuse or in abuse of Mr Brennan about his mother. This recollection of events has been supported by witness statements taken at the time.

"I look forward to a full and thorough investigation of this incident by the European Rugby Cup organisation and Toulouse Rugby Club.

"I am saddened and disappointed at the response by Toulouse. I believe that the approach by Toulouse can only serve to send out a very negative message about standards of behaviour acceptable among its players."

Bamford chose to reveal his immediate feelings following the incident in an interview in Monday's Belfast Telegraphwith their rugby correspondent, Gavin Mairs. Shocked by the altercation, Bamford contended that the Ulster supporters had been involved in "a bit of banter" with Brennan, teasing the Irish player about his pub, De Danu, in Toulouse.

The Ulster supporter contended: "He seemed to take it in a light-hearted manner. There was nothing malicious whatsoever. The chant was something like 'You're bar's a load of rubbish' and I just shouted out 'A below-par Irish pub, Trevor'.

"Brennan caught my eye as he warmed up in front of us and then he climbed over the barrier and started to climb up the steps. I thought it was a bit odd and that he was coming for a bit more banter. I actually put my hand out to shake his hand.

"I don't remember much after that. The next thing I remember was being in the Toulouse physio room where I was being treated by a doctor."

Ulster and Toulouse have been instructed to furnish the tournament organisers ERC with details of the altercation by today, and the matter will then be investigated by ERC's chief disciplinary officer, Roger O'Connor.

French television station Canal+ do not appear to have captured the incident, so the evidence will come from eyewitness reports.