Axelle Berthoumieu Reduces Sanction for Bite at Rugby World Cup
French rugby player Axelle Berthoumieu has had her 12-match ban reduced to 9 matches after appealing the sanction imposed for biting a rival in the World Cup quarter-final match against Ireland.
Berthoumieu admitted to biting Aoife Wafer during the 18-13 victory in the match played on Sunday at Sandy Park. The action was considered a red card by the independent foul play review committee on Monday, but the player disputed the severity of the initial sanction.
The independent disciplinary committee determined that, due to a procedural error, the original suspension was too long, resulting in a reduction of three matches.
Axelle Berthoumieu, on the left, admitted to biting Irish star Aoife Wafer during France’s quarter-final victory at the World Cup on Sunday.
Berthoumieu will no longer participate in the World Cup, missing the semi-final match on Saturday against England and the final or the third-place match the following weekend.
Her French teammate Manae Feleu has also been ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle.
