Biarritz called to account over rugby derby fracas

Biarritz have been summoned to a hearing by the disciplinary commission of the National Rugby League (LNR) after the father of Biarritz captain Imanol Harinordoquy ran onto the pitch during Tuesday's fiery Top 14 Basque derby with Bayonne. Both clubs will also have to explain the series of punch-ups that littered the 100th derby which Biarritz won 21-19 with the last kick of the match for only their second win of the season. However, it is the sixth-minute intrusion of Lucien Harinordoquy that the commission will examine the closest. The incident could lead to Biarritz being fined up to a maximum of 46,000 euros, as well as being barred from playing a maximum of two matches at home. Harinordoquy's father -- a cattle trader -- had apologised earlier on Wednesday for running onto the pitch to defend his son in a fight that erupted during Tuesday's game. "I apologise to the fans present at Aguilera, from Bayonne and Biarritz, to the two teams and their staff, to the National Rugby League (LNR), the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the rugby world in general," he said in a statement published on the Biarritz website. "Under pressure for various reasons, I lost all control. I regret having behaved in such a manner during such a festival of rugby." Biarritz said that they "accept" Lucien Harinordoquy's apologies and "hope that it will be the same for all the other parties involved". Earlier on Wednesday, Bayonne president Michel Cacouault branded the incident "unacceptable" and announced that Bayonne would file complaints against both Biarritz and Harinordoquy senior. Harinordoquy's father raced onto the pitch from the stands and faced up to Bayonne flanker Jean-Jo Marmouyet after his son, a three-time World Cup veteran, got involved in a punch-up far from the action at the start of the Basque derby. Harinordoquy senior's sense of family loyalty was brought to an abrupt halt by Bayonne fly-half Benjamin Boyet, who tackled him to the ground before Biarritz hooker Benoit August stepped in to restore order. Christian Gajan, Bayonne's director of rugby, was outraged by Harinordoquy's father's behaviour. "I find his behaviour deplorable, that he came onto the pitch to defend his son by boxing with Marmouyet at the beginning of the match," he said. "You could have been forgiven for thinking it was a youth match between two local villages. It was a scandalous episode." Harinordoquy junior, who is known as one of the tougher customers in the sport, chose not to comment.