France flanker Axelle Berthoumieu will miss the World Cup semi-final in opposition to England after being banned for 12 matches for biting Eire’s Aoife Wafer in Sunday’s quarter-final.
Berthoumieu confronted a disciplinary listening to on Monday after being cited for the incident within the second half of France’s 18-13 comeback victory in opposition to Eire.
France had stormed again from 13-0 down at half-time to guide their place within the final 4 however the end result was shortly overshadowed by controversy when footage emerged showing to indicate Berthoumieu biting Wafer’s arm throughout a breakdown.
Wafer was seen chatting with referee Aimee Barrett-Theron, gesturing towards her arm and indicating she had been bitten.
Eire captain Sam Monaghan later confirmed she had raised the difficulty with officers, although no motion was taken throughout the match.
“I spoke to the referee,” Monaghan stated. “Aoife informed me. I did not see it myself however I spoke to the referee and requested them.”
Eire’s Aoife Wafer is tackled by Berthoumieu
France second-row Manae Feleu was additionally cited after the match for a excessive deal with for which she obtained a three-game ban. The 25-year-old is ready to attraction the size of her suspension alongside Berthoumieu on September 16.
A World Rugby assertion learn: “An Impartial Foul Play Evaluation Committee (FPRC) convened to think about citing complaints issued in opposition to Axelle Berthoumieu (Legislation 9.12, biting) and Manae Feleu (Legislation 9.13, harmful deal with) following France’s Girls’s Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-final victory over Eire in Exeter on 14 September.
“The FPRC, chaired by Brenda Heather-Latu (Samoa), joined by Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand) and Valeriu Toma (Romania), reviewed the circumstances and proposed a 12-match sanction for Berthoumieu and a three-match sanction for Feleu (lowered to 2 on profitable completion of the Teaching Intervention Programme).
“Feleu has not accepted the proposed sanction from the FPRC and her attraction will probably be heard by a disciplinary committee. In relation to Berthoumieu, whereas the participant accepted that the motion warranted a pink card, the proposed size of the sanction is being appealed and the matter will now be heard by a disciplinary committee.
“Each hearings are provisionally scheduled for Tuesday September 16.”
The semi-final between England and France takes place on Saturday in Bristol at 3.30pm, with New Zealand enjoying Canada within the first semi-final on Friday night.
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