Stade Francais scrum-half Julien Dupuy is to appeal against his 24-week ban for gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris, the French club have confirmed.
The incident occurred during the province's 23-13 win over the Parisians in a Heineken Cup match at Ravenhill earlier this month.
The France international received the suspension at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Friday.
Should Dupuy, who joined Stade from Guinness Premiership champions Leicester in the summer, fail with his appeal it will see him miss all of France's RBS 6 Nations campaign as well as the rest of the French domestic season.
Stade president Max Guazzini described the ban as "excessive, very political and anti-French".
He added: "[European Rugby Cup] wanted to make an example of a symbolic player of Stade Francais and of the French team which has never had a disciplinary problem."
© Press Association