France's scrum-half Julien Dupuy faces missing most of the Six Nations after this evening being cited for making contact with Stephen Ferris's eyes during Stade Français's Heineken Cup defeat at Ulster.

Dupuy has forced his way into France's starting line-up since leaving Leicester at the end of last season, but he faces a ban of 12 weeks if he is found guilty of the charge after the International Rugby Board's crackdown on gouging.

The Leinster flanker Shane Jennings was given 12 weeks after being cited for making contact with an eye of the London Irish second-row Nick Kennedy last October.

Joining Dupuy will be the Stade Français prop David Attoub, who was also today cited for making contact with one of the Ireland and Lions flanker Ferris's eyes.

Ferris had his scrum-cap removed during the incident. "I was furious," he said. "When I was on the ground, I felt numerous fingers in my eye. There was no apology afterwards and I will just let the citing commissioner sort it out."

The date of the hearings has yet to be set but the tournament organisers, European Rugby Cup Ltd, will want them to have taken place before the return match between the sides, in Paris on Saturday.