The Biarritz flanker, who has won 44 caps, attended a disciplinary hearing in Glasgow after being cited by Wasps.

Wasps lodged a protest, claiming that Betsen tripped their England centre Stuart Abbott during a crucial European Cup pool clash between the clubs last month.

England World Cup winner Abbott suffered a broken leg as a result of the incident, and is unlikely to play again this season.

Betsen, 30, protested his innocence throughout and the citing complaint was tonight dismissed by a European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel.

Although the three-man panel, chaired by Rod McKenzie (Scottish Rugby Union) ruled that Betsen deliberately tripped Abbott, they ruled it was not premeditated and had been carried out in the heat of the moment and would not have warranted a sending-off.

The decision is a huge boost for French coach Bernard Laporte following his teams stuttering 16-9 success over Scotland in Paris last weekend, with Betsen a key player in plans to thwart English victory ambitions.