France’s preparations for the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against England have been rocked by the suspensions of two key players. Flanker Axelle Berthoumieu has been handed a 12-match ban for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer during the quarter-final clash, while captain Manaé Feleu will also miss the fixture after receiving a suspension for a high tackle.
The rulings, delivered after disciplinary hearings, mean both players are unavailable for the remainder of the tournament. Berthoumieu’s punishment was reduced from an initial 18 matches to 12, but if upheld, she will not be eligible to return until March 2026. Feleu, meanwhile, has been suspended for three matches, though her ban could be cut to two if she undertakes a coaching intervention programme.
Both players have lodged appeals, with hearings set to take place before the semi-final. Berthoumieu acknowledged her offence warranted a red card but argued the sanction was excessive, while Feleu admitted to foul play but insisted it did not merit a citing.
France secured their semi-final spot after a hard-fought 18-13 victory over Ireland, coming from behind to edge through. However, the absence of their captain and one of their standout performers in Feleu, combined with the loss of Berthoumieu, significantly weakens their chances of overcoming the tournament favourites, England.
The biting incident was not penalised during the game, with officials and the TMO unable to find conclusive evidence at the time. It only came to light after Wafer raised it, with Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan speaking to the referee about the complaint. The disciplinary panel later ruled that the act warranted a lengthy suspension.
England, unbeaten in their last 31 matches, have been in dominant form, sweeping past Scotland in their quarter-final. They head into Saturday’s showdown as firm favourites to reach the final at Twickenham on 27 September, where they are expected to face either Canada or New Zealand, who contest the other semi-final on Friday.
For France, topping their pool with wins against Italy, Brazil, and South Africa had signaled momentum, but the loss of two influential players ahead of their biggest challenge yet is a severe setback. With England’s power and consistency, the French side will need to dig deep to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
