Nantes’ mascot was forced off the pitch on a stretcher after being rugby tackled by his Rennes rival in bizarre scenes in France at the weekend.

The club’s cartoonish symbolic figure is a large yellow canary, designed after Nantes’ nickname, and emerged worse for wear after a coming-together in the Derby Breton.

During an apparent challenge involving both mascots at Roazhon Park, it was the costume clad in Rennes red that emerged victorious in front of their home crowd.

In a video shared by Amazon Prime Video, Rennes’ mascot, a white ermine named Erminig, is seen clattering into the canary, forcing them down to the turf.

Nantes’ mascot was escorted away on a stretcher after being clattered by their Rennes rival

Erminig, Rennes’ cartoonish symbol, rugby tackled Nantes’ large yellow canary to the ground

Helpless to resist, Nantes’ mascot took a tumble, their head flying off to one side.

A quick cut to the aftermath revealed the extent of the damage, with a team of several paramedics placing the canary onto a stretcher and carrying them away. 

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Strangely, between falling to the ground and being escorted away, the mascot was able to retrieve his head and put it back on, ensuring they remained in character.

To add insult to apparent injury, a limp Nantes side crashed to a 3-1 defeat.

Benjamin Bourigeaud opened the scoring after six minutes from the penalty spot, though Pedro Chirivella, who began his career on the books at Liverpool, equalised.

However, the home side moved back in front through Desire Doue on 73 minutes and sealed all three points deep in stoppage time courtesy of yet another spot-kick.

The sheer force of the tackle meant Nantes’ mascot lost his helmet after it bounced away

A team of paramedics were forced to place the canary on a stretcher and escort them away