French ban Toulouse lock Brennan

Brennan clashed with fans while he was warming up

Toulouse's Trevor Brennan has been banned by the French Rugby Federation until 15 March after his alleged assault on an Ulster fan last month.

The French federation acted after the International Rugby Board asked it to suspend the ex-Ireland lock following the incident in a Heineken Cup game.

Brennan's application for disciplinary proceedings to be adjourned was rejected at an ERC hearing on Monday.

The full hearing has been set for Friday 16 March in London.

The IRB said its request to have Brennan suspended until 15 March was "in the interests of the game".

The IRB told the French federation that it does not "in any way wish to review or prejudice the evidence, the particular arguments and their merits, which may or may not be raised" at the hearing.

Ulster fan Patrick Bamford is pursuing legal action in France against Brennan after being left needing medical treatment.

The accountant is also taking libel action against several media outlets.

Brennan had been warming up with the Toulouse substitutes when he claims he was verbally assaulted by a group of Ulster fans.

He then left the playing enclosure and became involved in an incident with Bamford, appearing to land a number of punches on him.

Brennan has since said he regretted the incident, which he claimed was provoked by taunts about his mother.

If found guilty, Brennan, who intends to retire at the end of the season, could receive a lengthy ban.