Swansea coach John Plumtree slammed the "ridiculous" red card decision that will sideline the All Whites' Welsh international flanker Colin Charvis for two Heineken Cup matches.

Charvis was dismissed by referee Ed Morrison for punching Italian Test fly-half Diego Dominguez during Swansea's superb 18-16 Pool Two success against crack French outfit Stade Francais.

But Dominguez could now find himself in the dock with Swansea currently considering whether to cite for an alleged kick on Charvis.

"That red card was ridiculous - it has to be turned over," said Plumtree, after seeing Arwel Thomas kick Swansea to victory with all 18 points.

"Colin has such an inoffensive character, and I can never imagine having swung at Dominguez for no reason. It was a bad call by the referee."

Charvis was suspended following an hour-long post-match disciplinary hearing, and Swansea have decided not to appeal against the decision.

"We have accepted the match commissioner's decision of a two-match suspension," said rugby director Baden Evans.

"We have got 72 hours to look at any decision about citing one of their players. We will look at the video tape and make a decision in the cold light of day."

Swansea, 11-6 down when Charvis departed, played almost the entire second half - which included 10 minutes' injury time - without him as Thomas inspired their fightback.

He dropped three goals for the second European game in succession, putting Swansea top of their group before back-to-back appointments with Italian side L'Aquila that Charvis will now miss.

It was a good day for Welsh clubs, as two other sides - Cardiff and Llanelli - beat French opposition.

Neil Jenkins was Cardiff's star performer, contributing 21 points in a comfortable 26-17 Arms Park victory over an off-colour Toulouse.

The French giants now prop up Pool Three, and are in grave danger of not progressing beyond the group stages.

Jenkins though, whose haul included a try and drop goal, believes Cardiff must improve considerably before visiting Premiership leaders Saracens next Saturday.

"Saracens are a good side, and we will need to improve by 50%. That wasn't a great Toulouse team, although we still produced a convincing performance for 60 minutes," he said.

Jenkins and his fellow Welsh international Gareth Thomas scored tries, and Cardiff are now hopeful of parading their latest signing, prop Peter Rogers, against Saracens.

Despite Heineken Cup chief ruling Rogers ineligible because he had been registered for the tournament with his former club Newport, Cardiff believes they can win the case.

"We have had positive discussions with European Rugby Cup Limited, and feel we can move this to an amicable conclusion early next week before we play Saracens," said a Cardiff spokesman.

"In the interests of the team, and after a few days of disruption, it was decided not to field Peter Rogers against Toulouse."

Llanelli beat Colomiers 19-6 in France, wing Mark Jones scoring a late try after fly-half Stephen Jones kept the Scarlets on top through four penalties.

And it was just the tonic Llanelli needed following their potentially damaging Pool Five home defeat against Gloucester eight days earlier.

There was no joy for luckless Pontypridd though, the battling Welsh team losing 12-9 in a Pau mud-bath as home fly-half David Aucagne booted four penalties.

A Lee Jarvis penalty hat-trick meant that Ponty pushed their Pool Six rivals all the way, but they were ultimately edged out.

"Our kicking out of hand left a lot to be desired, and it was the only reason that Pau stayed in the game," said frustrated Pontypridd coach Richie Collins.

Skipper Paul John added: "Only stupid mistakes let us down. At no time did I think we could not win the match."

Munster, Heineken Cup runners-up last season, went to the top of Pool Four after overturning an 11-point interval deficit and toppling hosts Castres 32-29.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara scored 22 points, including a try, while Jason Holland and Dominic Crotty also touched down to secure a precious away win.

"We kept our heads and didn't panic - in the second half, we played a much simpler game," Holland said.

"We kept possession and tried to force Castres into making errors, and in the end it all came together."

Rotherham continued to defy their lowly Premiership status in the second-tier European Shield, recording a stunning 20-19 victory away to Perpignan.

Scrum-half Dave Scully converted second-half tries by back-row forwards Ben Wade and Mike Schmid as the Yorkshire club went top of their group.

London Irish, docked two points by Shield bosses following a player registration mix-up last week, overcame Aurillac 36-19, and Sale saw off Heywood Road visitors Caerphilly 23-14.

Harlequins, helped by a try from England centre Will Greenwood, defeated Ebbw Vale 18-6, but Bristol came unstuck away to La Rochelle, losing 34-19.