France lose two forwards for Women's World Cup semifinal

France will be without two experienced forwards for Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup semifinal after disciplinary panels upheld suspensions stemming from incidents in the quarterfinal win over Ireland. Flanker Axelle Berthoumieu was ruled to have bitten Ireland's Aoife Wafer and, after an appeal, will remain suspended for the rest of the tournament. Captain Manaé Feleu will also miss the semifinal after a ban for a high tackle was upheld.

The incidents occurred in France's 18-13 comeback victory over Ireland at Sandy Park in Exeter on Sunday. Video circulated on social media appeared to show Berthoumieu with her mouth on Wafer's arm during a ruck in the 42nd minute, a moment Ireland captain Sam Monaghan said she raised with referee Aimee Barrett-Theron during the match. The Television Match Official could not determine clear and obvious foul play live, World Rugby said, but the citing commissioner formally referred the incident after the game.

An Independent Foul Play Review Committee initially set an entry point of 18 matches for biting, then applied mitigation and reduced that to a 12-match suspension for Berthoumieu. The flanker accepted that the action warranted a red card...