France might be with out Axelle Berthoumieu for his or her World Cup semi-final in opposition to England following an alleged chunk on Eire’s Aoife Wafer.
Eire fell agonisingly wanting a spot within the final 4, surrendering a 13-0 half-time result in crash out 18-13 to France of their quarter-final at Sandy Park.
The defeat was overshadowed by footage showing to indicate France flanker Berthoumieu biting Wafer’s arm.
Wafer was seen talking to referee Aimee Barrett-Theron concerning the incident, gesturing that she had been bitten.
Eire captain Sam Monaghan confirmed she additionally raised the problem with officers, however no motion was taken throughout the match.
“I spoke to the referee,” mentioned Monaghan. “Aoife told me – I didn’t see it myself but I spoke to the referee and asked them.”
Biting is taken into account a severe offence below World Rugby’s disciplinary code, carrying a minimal entry-point ban of 12 matches.
Retrospective motion would nearly definitely finish Berthoumieu’s World Cup marketing campaign and go away France with out certainly one of their most influential gamers for subsequent Saturday’s semi-final showdown with match hosts and favourites England.
Former England captain Maggie Alphonsi known as the incident “disgraceful.”
“I hate seeing that in the game – men’s or women’s,” she informed the BBC. “It’s very clear. She should be punished for that.
“It is unhappy as a result of the Ladies’s Rugby World Cup has been a celebration. It is such a disgrace that now the headlines are going to be dominated by a foolish incident from a participant who did not want to try this. Now she’s going to probably miss the remainder of the World Cup.”
