Ireland captain Sam Monaghan asked the match referee about an alleged biting incident during the loss to France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Sunday.
Monaghan said teammate Aoife Wafer claimed she was bitten by opposite flanker Axelle Berthoumieu at Sandy Park.
A video of the incident showed Berthoumieu on the bottom of a ruck with her mouth apparently on the arm of Wafer.
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Wafer then seemed to show her arm to referee Aimee Barrett-Theron, who was heard telling Ireland players that she “didn’t see anything”.
No formal review of the incident was made during the match.
Ireland’s Aoife Wafer claims she was bitten by French flanker Axelle Berthoumieu. Stan
“I spoke to the referee,” Monaghan said post-match.
“Aoife told me, I didn’t see it myself, but I spoke to the referee and asked them.”
Ireland coach Scott Bemand was asked about it after his side lost 18-13.
“I think in terms of process, your on-pitch leadership would mention to the referee,” Bemand said.
“Then it’s up to the team officials to deal with it, should they see fit at that point.
“At the moment, I haven’t seen anything. If there are bits to pursue, we could potentially be disappointed but we’ve followed the process as best we can from our perspective in terms of the on-pitch conversations.”
Ireland’s Aoife Wafer shows her arm to the referee after claiming she was bitten by French flanker Axelle Berthoumieu. Stan
France captain Manae Feleu spoiled Ireland’s last-chance lineout and sent her team into the semifinals.
Two last-minute penalties gave Ireland a throw-in five metres from the try line with the French short a woman; Alexandra Chambon was in the sin-bin.
France gambled on lifting players instead of bracing for an Irish maul and Feleu, at the front, got finger-tips to the throw-in to knock on the ball and end the nerve-wracking finale.
The tenacious Irish playing their first knockout match in 11 years couldn’t believe it.
“We’re heartbroken,” Ireland captain Monaghan said.
“It went to the death. We took them to a dark place. It was in our hands.”
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While the French defence prevailed at the end, their try line stand to close the first half was even more incredible.
Ireland had first use of what Sandy Park veterans predicted was a 15-point wind and was 13-0 up but desperate for a possibly decisive third try.
Feleu was in the sin-bin for collapsing a 20-meter rolling maul and somehow her 14 teammates repelled 35 phases by the Irish that lasted for four edge-of-the-seat minutes.
France celebrate at the final whistle during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. CameraSport via Getty Images
“It was a match of character. We had to defend like our lives depended on it,” France winger Joanna Grisez said.
“We’ve got guts. It felt like they could have attacked all afternoon and still wouldn’t have broken through.”
Ireland tries by prop Linda Djougang and fullback Stacey Flood — playing on a stitched right foot cut to the bone last weekend against New Zealand — and Dannah O’Brien’s only successful goal kick made it 13-0.
But it didn’t appear enough in the conditions, especially having spent 80 per cent of the half on French turf. France missed only four tackles in the first half.