Challenge Cup: Stringer ‘disgusted’ by Fillol’s spit

Peter Stringer was “disgusted” at being spat on by his French opposite number Jerome Fillol in Bath’s 36-20 Amlin Challenge Cup defeat by Stade Francais.

The independent citing officer Eugene Ryan, from Ireland, has 50 hours from kick-off to decide whether to cite Fillol for the 25th-minute incident at the Rec.

An announcement is not expected until today.

Stringer said after the game that spitting on an opponent was “as low as you can probably go”.

Yesterday, the 35-year-old tweeted: “Disgusted at what happened yesterday in the game. No place for it in rugby or any walk of life.”

Stringer and Fillol had already exchanged words before they clashed.

Television replays showed a verbal exchange before a scrum and Fillol then aimed a spit in the face of the former Ireland international.

Brett Gosper, the chief executive of the International Rugby Board, tweeted: “Spitting on Stringer should be punished to the full extent of the law. £NotRugby.”

Under the IRB disciplinary code, the sanction for spitting ranges between four and at least 11 weeks depending on the severity of the offence. The maximum ban is 52 weeks.