France back row Axelle Berthoumieu has her 12-match ban for biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer reduced to nine - but will miss Saturday's semi-final against England.

French rugby ace Axelle Berthoumieu has been hit with a hefty ban for biting an opponent during her team's quarter-final victory at the Women's Rugby World Cup. The back-row player was caught on camera seemingly biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer during Sunday's last-eight match,

France flanker Axelle Berthoumieu has had a 12-match ban imposed by World Rugby for biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer in their Women's Rugby World

France back-row Axelle Berthoumieu has been cited for an alleged bite on Ireland's Aoife Wafer in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final.

French player Axelle Berthoumieu has been handed a 12-match ban after she was found guilty by a citing committee of biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer during Les Bleus’ quarter-final win in Exeter. The incident took place during the second half at Sandy Park when Aoife Wafer won a penalty turnover in a ruck that Berthoumieu was

Berthoumieu’s bite at the bottom of a ruck on her Irish counterpart in the early minutes of the second half at Sandy Park in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final went viral online after the incident. Though she survived a review from the television match official, she was cited after the match.

French rugby flanker Axelle Berthoumieu faces a year-long absence from the sport following a 12-match suspension for biting an opponent during the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final. The 25-year-old will remain banned until March 2026 after the incident involving Ireland's Aoife Wafer.

“It was therefore proposed that Berthoumieu is suspended for the remainder of France’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 matches, their upcoming semi-final against England and either the Bronze or Final match on 27 September, and a further 10 matches in her domestic championship. She will be free to play after 1 March 2026.”