In a twist that sounds more vampire saga than rugby showdown, France's Axelle Berthoumieu is set to miss the business end of the Women's World Cup. Her initial 12-match ban for biting in a quarter-final clash against Ireland was cut down to nine by an appeal panel, but it still sidelines her for both the semi-finals and potentially the finals. The bite seen around the world happened during a high-tension moment when France was trailing 0-13, which apparently turned Berthoumieu into a bit of a biter.
The notorious chomp occurred on Ireland's Aoife Wafer, and while the referee didn't catch it in the act, the aftermath was undeniable. Berthoumieu owned up to the red-card offense but contested the severity of the punishment. The panel, considering her clean slate and heartfelt apology, showed some leniency by reducing her time out, originally set with an 18-week starting point for such carnivorous conduct.
In a display of remorse, Berthoumieu took to Instagram with a public apology:
"On Sunday during the match against Ireland, I lost my nerve. I know it's unacceptable and I’m aware that it puts an end to my World Cup,"
she wrote. Continuing, she expressed her regrets to all parties involved, highlighting her commitment to the spirit of rugby which clearly does not include dental impressions on opponents.
Despite the incident and the subsequent media frenzy, Ireland's captain, Sam Monaghan, noted that immediate action wasn't taken during the game, a detail that sparked some controversy. World Rugby chimed in, stating that the TMO couldn’t pinpoint any "clear and obvious foul play" at the moment.
While Berthoumieu reflects on her actions off the field, the French team must now face England in Bristol without her. Depending on that outcome, they'll either advance to the finals or battle for third place at Twickenham—a stage Berthoumieu will watch from afar, her World Cup journey cut short by a moment of misjudgment.
So, as the Women's World Cup continues, let's hope the only bites we see are those of competitors chomping down on victory medals, not each other.
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In a twist that sounds more vampire saga than rugby showdown, France's Axelle Berthoumieu is set to miss the business end of the Women's World Cup. Her initial 12-match ban for biting in a quarter-final clash against Ireland was cut down to nine by an appeal panel, but it still sidelines her for both the semi-finals and potentially the finals. The bite seen around the world happened during a high-tension moment when France was trailing 0-13, which apparently turned Berthoumieu into a bit of a biter.
The notorious chomp occurred on Ireland's Aoife Wafer, and while the referee didn't catch it in the act, the aftermath was undeniable. Berthoumieu owned up to the red-card offense but contested the severity of the punishment. The panel, considering her clean slate and heartfelt apology, showed some leniency by reducing her time out, originally set with an 18-week starting point for such carnivorous conduct.
In a display of remorse, Berthoumieu took to Instagram with a public apology:
"On Sunday during the match against Ireland, I lost my nerve. I know it's unacceptable and I’m aware that it puts an end to my World Cup,"
she wrote. Continuing, she expressed her regrets to all parties involved, highlighting her commitment to the spirit of rugby which clearly does not include dental impressions on opponents.Despite the incident and the subsequent media frenzy, Ireland's captain, Sam Monaghan, noted that immediate action wasn't taken during the game, a detail that sparked some controversy. World Rugby chimed in, stating that the TMO couldn’t pinpoint any "clear and obvious foul play" at the moment.
While Berthoumieu reflects on her actions off the field, the French team must now face England in Bristol without her. Depending on that outcome, they'll either advance to the finals or battle for third place at Twickenham—a stage Berthoumieu will watch from afar, her World Cup journey cut short by a moment of misjudgment.
So, as the Women's World Cup continues, let's hope the only bites we see are those of competitors chomping down on victory medals, not each other.