During a Toulouse v
Ulster match at the
Stade Ernest Wallon on 21 January 2007, Brennan jumped into a section of the crowd housing Ulster supporters and struck a male spectator. Brennan alleged afterwards that abuse towards his apparent "watered-down pints" in his Toulouse bar triggered his action. His uncle took this further alleging
sectarian abuse had taken place, a claim initially supported by the club before swiftly being retracted. In their investigation of the incident European Rugby found no such abuse took place. They found that Brennan was being baited over the standard of the bar he co-owns in Toulouse. Brennan announced his retirement on 3 March 2007, before the result of the disciplinary process. For his attack he was banned for life from playing rugby, fined £17,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation to Bamford. In June 2007, the ban was reduced to a 5-year suspension following an appeal. It was held that the life ban was 'disproportionate' to the offence. Bamford's recollection of events was recorded in the Independent Appeal Committee Decision's statement. Following his retirement, Brennan and his family have remained in Toulouse, where he owns an Irish bar. He coached the Toulouse Crabos B under 18 team. Brennan has had occasional columns, written by
Gerry Thornley, published in the
Irish Times, and has appeared on television as a rugby commentator. After his retirement, he began operating a rugby tours company. In 2007, Brennan's autobiography
Heart and Soul, ghost-written by Gerry Thornley, won the
William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year. In 2008, Ireland rugby fitness coach Mike McGurn and Brennan were part of the Ireland
International rules football coaching staff in the International rules series against Australia. Both Brennan and McGurn played
Gaelic football in their youth and were invited by the Irish manager
Seán Boylan and the
GAA to give their expertise from rugby in the game which is a mix of
Aussie Rules and Gaelic football. As of 2023, his sons
Daniel (born 1998) and
Joshua (born 2001) were both playing in the
Top 14 and had represented
France at youth levels. ==References==