Berthoumieu’s Ban Cut To Nine Games And Feleu Also Out Of Women’s Rugby World Cup

Axelle Berthoumieu’s ban for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer has been reduced to 9 matches but Manaé Feleu’s citing was upheld by a disciplinary committee meaning some will miss nan remainder of nan Rugby World Cup. France play England successful nan semi-finals connected Saturday.

The brace were cited connected Sunday aft their 18-13 quarter-final triumph against Ireland. Berthoumieu was cited for biting Wafer and, while nan flanker accepted nan foul play, she was appealing against nan magnitude of nan first 12-match prohibition a disciplinary committee projected connected Monday. That had already been reduced from nan starting constituent of 18 matches but was taken down to 9 because of her cleanable erstwhile disciplinary record, remorse and nationalist apology.

Berthoumieu apologised to Wafer connected societal media connected Monday, saying: “I mislaid my temper Sunday against Ireland. I cognize this is not acceptable and I americium alert that this puts an extremity to my World Cup.

“I would for illustration to apologise to Aoife Wafer and Team Ireland, my teammates and staff, FFR and each those who support us. It’s not nan image I want to give, nor nan subordinate I want to be. I judge nan sanction. Rugby is simply a respect athletics and this motion has thing to do connected a rugby field.”

Manaé Feleu will miss nan remainder of nan World Cup. Photograph: Joe Toth/Shutterstock

Feleu appealed against her three-match prohibition for a vulnerable tackle successful nan Ireland lucifer because, though nan skipper accepted foul play had occurred, she did not work together pinch nan projected sanction. That entreaty has been unsuccessful arsenic nan committee found: “The tackle was high, it made interaction pinch nan caput of nan Ireland subordinate and nan grade of threat was high.”

If nan fastener completes a coaching involution programme, nan prohibition will beryllium reduced to 2 games, making her eligible to play aft nan World Cup concludes.

Fans person questioned why successful peculiar Berthoumieu’s wound was not picked up by lucifer officials during nan quarter-final. The tournament’s title director, Yvonne Nolan, said nan “correct process” was followed by officials and added: “These types of incidents are notoriously difficult to woody pinch in-game. I recognise group will reappraisal screenshots and truthful connected and they will person their ain views but I would be aware that these incidents are really rare.

“I don’t deliberation I person ever seen a biting incident being dealt pinch in-game, they almost ever require further accusation aft nan game. That usually includes interviews pinch nan player, ruling retired things for illustration accidental interaction and they request to found nan unit of nan interaction truthful a elaborate connection from nan subordinate is typically needed. It usually needs an inspection of nan tract of immoderate alleged wound and a reappraisal of nan bruising aliases wounded arsenic it develops, sometimes moreover dental grounds becomes applicable complete nan people of these investigations.

“I would conscionable opportunity a connection of be aware of jumping to a conclusion and removing a subordinate unless nan grounds is really categoric in-game is really challenging and that is what nan citing process is for. It’s location to woody pinch issues for illustration this and nan correct process has been gone through.”

If France hit England this play they will look either Canada aliases New Zealand successful nan last connected 27 September. Canada and New Zealand’s semi-final takes spot connected Friday.