France will play the rest of the Women's Rugby World Cup without their captain Manae Feleu and flanker Axelle Berthoumieu after the duo were both suspended for offences committed against Ireland on Sunday.
Berthoumieu has been banned for 12 matches, reduced from 18, after she was found to have bitten Irish back-row Aoife Wafer early in the the second half of France's 18-13 quarter-final win in Exeter on Sunday.
Irish co-captain Sam Monaghan raised the issue with the match referee during the game but no sanction resulted and World Rugby today said television match official Ian Tempest was unable to find sufficient evidence of the bite at the time.
"In reviewing the matter live, the TMO was unable to determine clear and obvious foul play and did not have the benefit of additional evidential submissions to corroborate," the statement read.
However, an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) reviewed written submissions from the the parties involved today and imposed a mid-range sanction of 18 matches, applying only slight mitigation given "the seriousness of the player's actions, and that the player had the opportunity not to continue with the action".
Berthoumieu (pictured above) accepted she had deserved a red card but is appealing the severity of the ban, which, as it stands, means she would not be able to play again for France or her club Blagnac until 1 March next year.
Feleu was suspended for three games for a high tackle - which could be reduced to two if she goes to 'tackle school' - but is appealing that decision in the hope of being allowed to play in next weekend's semi-final against hosts England.
Both appeals are expected to be heard on Tuesday.
Watch New Zealand v Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Friday from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
