Andy Hazell was sent off after retaliating against a Mont-de-Marsan opponent © Getty Images

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Matches: Mont-de-Marsan 6 - 11 Gloucester Rugby

Tournaments/Tours: Amlin Challenge Cup

Teams: Gloucester Rugby | Mont-de-Marsan

Gloucester are set to seek sanctions against at least one Mont-de-Marsan player after their ugly Amlin Challenge Cup opener in France.

Gloucester's former England flanker Andy Hazell was sent off in the 55th minute for punching an opposing player. Video footage also showed Hazell aiming his knee at the player's head.

The 34-year-old, can expect a lengthy ban, while three other players - Gloucester forward Matt Cox and Mont-de-Marsan pair Scott Murray and Ephraim Taukafa - received yellow cards in the game for unrelated incidents.

Gloucester won the Pool One encounter 11-6 at Stade Guy Boniface, but the fall-out is likely to continue for some time. Hazell will now face a disciplinary hearing, but Gloucester boss Nigel Davies has already confirmed the Aviva Premiership club's stance.

Davies told the Gloucester Citizen that Hazell's eye was "severely sore and very red".

"We'll speak to the citing commissioner, and there will be something done there," Davies said. "We can't condone what was done from a Gloucester view, but that was a reaction to what went on before.

"We will take our punishment, but I think they (Mont-de-Marsan) need to take their punishment too. We'll look at the video, and from what I've seen already I'm sure we will make a complaint.

"The doctor's had a look at Andy's eye. It was severely sore and very red. And we took some pictures of that, because that was damning evidence in its own right. He's disappointed with himself, but I think there were three incidents before that with the same player and he's caught him off the ball again, and unfortunately Andy snapped."

Hazell apologised for his actions but insisted he was provoked into them by an opponent attempting to injure him.

"Never had a red in 12 years, extremely embarrassed by my actions," Hazell said on Twitter. "It was the third time someone tried to severely injury (sic) me, and I reacted." Hazell can expect a lengthy ban from tournament disciplinary chiefs.