The Ulster fan allegedly assaulted by Toulouse lock Trevor Brennan has denied provoking the player by insulting his mother.

Brennan faces a lengthy suspension and possible heavy fine following the incident, which occurred during Sunday's Heineken Cup clash between the sides at Stade Ernest Wallon.

The 33-year-old climbed into the crowd and had an altercation with Ulster fan Patrick Bamford, originally from Belfast but who now lives in London.

Brennan claims he regrets the incident but insists Ulster fan Bamford taunted him about his mother.

This has been "categorically" denied by Mr Bamford, who claims to have suffered a suspected fractured skull in the incident.

"I cannot accept that any circumstances can justify his violence," he said in a statement. "There has been an attempt to justify the unexpected and still unexplained actions of Trevor Brennan which resulted in a serious assault on me.

"I categorically deny that at any point that I or anyone sitting around me was involved in sectarian abuse or in abuse of Mr Brennan about his mother. This recollection of events has been supported by witness statements taken at the time."