France coach Marc Lievremont has called on Julien Dupuy to appeal his ban © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Julien Dupuy | Marc Lievremont

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | French Top 14

Teams: France | Stade Français

France coach Marc Lievremont has called on Stade Francais to appeal Julien Dupuy's six-month ban for gouging Ulster's Stephen Ferris, insisting that the player will not tour with France in the summer if his ban is upheld. As it stands Dupuy will be free to play again on June 3 2010, with a Test against South Africa slated for June 12.

Lievremont hopes that his ban can be reduced to something "more reasonable" and criticised the length of the ban in the context of a players' career. Dupuy has won six France caps this year, making his debut against New Zealand in Dunedin in June.

The six-month ban handed to Dupuy is by far the longest seen in recent times, with Springbok Schalk Burger and Italy skipper Sergio Parisse both escaping with eight week bans over the summer.

"We expected the worst, and the worst is what happened to Julien because six months is enormous," Lièvremont told French newspaper L'Equipe. "I hope Julien or his club appeals and that his punishment is adjusted to something more reasonable. A rugby player has a duty to set an example when it comes to discipline and violence - all the more when the player is an international and leader. It's normal that he was punished. But the punishment is extremely heavy.

"I know that Ferris' testimony lent more towards a open-handed slap rather than an intention to do harm. And the player is fine. Six months in the career of a player is enormous. There are high tackles that can do a lot more harm. If he hasn't played for six months, it's totally out of the question that he'll leave for South Africa a week after the end of his suspension. It's obvious, if the sanction is upheld, his season is over."