FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Women’s World Cup - Japan v Italy - Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand - October 23, 2022 Italy's Sara Tounesi wins a line out REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo
(Reuters) - Italy lock Sara Tounesi has been suspended for 12 matches for biting a player from Japan at the women's Rugby World Cup, meaning she miss Saturday's quarter-final against France.
Tounesi was cited for biting an unnamed opponent during Italy's 21-8 win on Sunday.
The tournament's judicial committee upheld the citing complaint, World Rugby said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The committee concluded that the player bit a Japanese player which ... merited a red card," said the statement.
Tounesi has two days to appeal the decision.
Italy face France at Whangarei on Saturday.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
