Italy women's Rugby World Cup forward banned 12 weeks for biting

WELLINGTON: Italy second-row forward Sara Tounesi was on Tuesday (Oct 25) banned for 12 matches for biting an opponent in the women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Tounesi will miss this weekend's quarter-final against France after being cited during the final pool match, a 21-8 victory against Japan on Sunday.

An independent judicial committee concluded that she had bitten the Japanese player, which is a red card offence under Law 9.12, and accordingly upheld the citing.

The law in question states:

The committee decided on a mid-range ban of 18 matches as punishment, but reduced it to 12 games having regard to mitigation.

Tounesi is suspended initially for Italy's quarter-final against France on Oct 29 in Whangarei with the remaining matches to be determined once future playing schedules of Italy and the player are known.