FRANCE centre Mathieu Bastareaud apologised today after being cited for appearing to direct homophobic abuse at a Benetton player during Toulon’s 36-0 European Champions Cup win.

The centre could miss the Six Nations after being charged with verbal abuse of a player, which carries a ban ranging from six weeks to a year. France kick off their campaign against Ireland on February 3.

The incident happened in the last minute of the match, when Bastareaud appeared to call Italy forward Sebastian Negri a “fucking faggot.”