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Allegations surfaced regarding an incident involving Axelle Berthoumieu and Aoife Wafer during the quarter-final match.
Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final: France v England
Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol Date: Saturday 20 September Kick-off: 15:30 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC One, Sports Extra and BBC Sport website and app
French back row player Axelle Berthoumieu has seen her initial 12-match suspension for biting reduced to nine games following an appeal.
The incident in question involved Berthoumieu, 25, and Ireland’s Aoife Wafer during France’s quarter-final victory at the World Cup on Sunday.
A disciplinary committee cited Berthoumieu’s admission of guilt, previously unblemished disciplinary record, demonstrable remorse, and public apology as sufficient mitigating factors to warrant a reduction in the ban.
As a result, she will be absent from Saturday’s semi-final clash against England, as well as either the bronze medal match or the final on 27 September, in addition to seven further domestic fixtures.
France’s second row player and co-captain, Manae Feleu, will also be unavailable for the England match after her appeal against suspension was unsuccessful.
Feleu received a three-match ban, which can be reduced to two upon completion of a tackle school, following a citing for a high tackle in the same quarter-final.
While the 25-year-old acknowledged the illegal nature of the challenge, she contested that it merited a red card. However, the disciplinary committee upheld the original decision.
The alleged biting incident involving Berthoumieu occurred as Ireland secured a penalty turnover in the second half of their 18-13 defeat to France at Sandy Park.
Ireland’s captain, Sam Monaghan, stated that she brought the incident to the attention of referee Aimee Barrett-Theron, but no action was taken during the course of the match.
It emerged during the Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) hearing that the television match official was unable to definitively determine “clear and obvious foul play” at the time.
The FPRC was ultimately able to reach its decision through the consideration of written evidence and all available broadcast angles.
France were trailing 13-0 at the time of the controversial incident but subsequently rallied to secure their place in the semi-final against England at Ashton Gate.
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