The start of a European Rugby Champions Cup match in Toulouse has been delayed after a parachutist carrying the match ball got tangled up on the stadium roof.

Footage showed the aerial performer gliding into the Stadium de Toulouse before becoming lodged on the edge of the roof, reducing his blue-and-white parachute to tatters.

The parachutist was seen dangling for several minutes as fans were cleared from the area and workers placed a protective inflatable decoration beneath him.

Firefighters then slowly rose a mechanised ladder to collect the man in a basket. 

Firefighters rescue parachutist after he was left dangling from rugby stadium roof. – Reuters

He was descending quickly when the right side of his blue-and-white parachute became stuck on a section of the roof, leaving him dangling some 15 meters above a section of fans.

The parachutist was reportedly a French soldier.

He appeared unharmed and helped them to untangle the chute as the crowd began cheering when they saw he was safe.

After the firemen finally yanked the last bit of the parachute from the roof they were treated to a huge ovation.

Toulouse's match against English team Sale then got underway following a delay of 40 minutes.