Biting France player banned from Rugby World Cup, but lodges appeal

France loose forward Axelle Berthoumieu is appealing her 12-match ban for biting at the Rugby World Cup.

Berthoumieu has admitted biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer in Sunday's quarterfinal in Exeter, but is appealing the extent of the ban, which is effectively six months long.

France captain Manae Feleu has also been ruled out of the rest of the tournament for a dangerous tackle, but is also appealing her three-match ban.

France advanced to the semifinals with their 18-13 win over Ireland, with England their next opponents. Losing both players would be a huge blow to their chance of making the final.

The appeals will be heard on Tuesday.

Wafer had complained about being bitten immediately after the incident and the referee asked the television match official to review it, but the TMO was unable to determine clear and obvious foul play, the judicial panel said.

But at her hearing, Berthoumieu accepted the bite warranted a red card, the judicial panel - which included former All Black Ofisa Tonu'u - said.

In determining the penalty, the panel considered an 18-match ban before reducing it to 12.

"Although the player acknowledged the foul play and was remorseful, full mitigation was not given due to the seriousness of the player's actions, and that the player had the opportunity not to continue with the action," World Rugby said in a press release.

Feleu had been cited for a dangerous tackle on an Irish player, which also hadn't been subject to sanction on the field.

She had accepted that her high tackle was foul play, but claimed it didn't reach red card status.

But the panel found that her actions were reckless.

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