Rugby-French pair have World Cup bans confirmed

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Women's World Cup 2025 - Pool A - France v South Africa - Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, Britain - September 7, 2025 South Africa's Vainah Ubisi in action with France's Manae Feleu Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -France captain Manae Feleu and loose forward Axelle Berthoumieu will miss the rest of the Women’s Rugby World Cup after a disciplinary committee on Tuesday confirmed the players' bans.

They had appealed hefty suspensions handed down on Monday with Berthoumieu’s 12-match ban for biting reduced to nine games after she apologised, but Feleu had her three-match ban for a dangerous tackle in Sunday’s quarter-final win over Ireland upheld.