Fabien Pelous has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks with an ankle injury but the France captain should be fit for the start of the Six Nations.

He sprained his left ankle during Toulouse's Heineken Cup defeat to Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday but should be back just in time for the Six Nations opener against Italy on February 3. If he does play against Italy it will be his 111th cap, equalling Philippe Sella's French record.

London Irish have asked Heineken Cup organisers to investigate an alleged incident of racial abuse during last Friday's match against Ulster. London Irish's full-back Delon Armitage claims to have been abused after his side's defeat in Belfast.