Aoife Wafer receives public apology for Bitegate as French offender has ban reduced

France's Axelle Berthoumieu has apologised to Aoife Wafer for biting her in Sunday's Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Sandy Park - and has had her ban reduced by three weeks.

The flanker will sit out the remainder of the Women's Rugby World Cup after she bit this year's Six Nations player of the tournament in the 42nd minute, although she has had her 12-week ban reduced to nine after an appeal.

Berthoumieu agreed it was a red card offence when she faced an independent foul play review committee on Monday, but disputed the severity of the sanction.

An independent disciplinary committee on Tuesday found that because of a procedural error her suspension was too long, resulting in the three-game reduction.

Ireland's pleas for the referee to take action were not heeded by the referee Aimee Barrett-Theron or TMO Ian Tempest and Berthoumieu as France came from 13-0 down to win 18-13 and advance into the last four to face tournament favourites England.

Berthoumieu has issued a public apology for the offence. “I would like to sincerely apologise to Aoife Wafer and the Irish team, to my teammates and our staff, to the FFR, and to all those who support us,” she wrote on Instagram.

“This is not the image I want to project or the player I want to be. I accept the punishment and I take responsibility. Rugby is a sport of respect, and this gesture has no place on a rugby field.”

The French will also be without Manae Feleu because her appeal of a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle was over-turned.