Two Leinster rugby players narrowly escaped serious injury in France on Saturday night following their game against Toulouse in their final match of this year's European Cup. Stephen Rooney and James Blaney were set upon as they were returning to their hotel in the centre of Toulouse, having been out to dinner with other members of the team.

The unprovoked attack left both players cut and bruised but not badly injured. They had at that stage been separated from the main body of the team-mates. The attackers were not rugby players and were not believed to be attached to Toulouse rugby club. They were not apprehended.

The motive for the assault was thought to be an attempted mugging. Local police gave the two players a lift back to their hotel and they travelled back to Ireland with the rest of the team yesterday afternoon.

Flanker Rooney received a superficial head wound while hooker Blaney suffered cuts and grazing to his face and head in the incident.