Monaghan 'spoke To Referee' Over Alleged Wafer Bite

Ireland skipper Sam Monaghan says she said to lucifer officials astir an alleged wound connected Aoife Wafer successful Sunday's World Cup quarter-final conclusion by France.

The incident came arsenic Ireland won a punishment turnover successful nan 2nd half of their 18-13 conclusion by nan French astatine Sandy Park.

Wafer, who was making her first quality of nan tournament, appeared to person been bitten connected nan limb by French backmost statement Axelle Berthoumieu successful nan 42nd minute.

Footage instantly aft nan incident showed Wafer looking astatine her arm.

France were trailing 13-0 astatine nan clip of nan incident and went connected to book a semi-final spot successful nan 18-13 win.

Ireland skipper Monaghan said she raised nan incident pinch nan referee Aimee Barrett-Theron, but nary action was taken during nan match.

"I said to nan referee," fastener Monaghan said.

"Aoife told me, I didn't spot it myself, but I said to nan referee and asked them."

Any retrospective action aft a citing reappraisal could spot nan French backmost statement handed a ban.

World Rugby has been contacted by BBC Sport astir nan incident.

Former England World Cup victor Maggie Alphonsi said nan alleged incident was a "disgrace" and Berthoumieu should beryllium punished if recovered guilty.

"I dislike seeing that successful nan game," she said.

"When it comes to a business for illustration that it's very clear, she should beryllium punished for that.

"It's sad because we've been celebrating nan women's crippled successful this World Cup.

"It's specified a shame that nan headlines will beryllium dominated by nan incident by a subordinate who didn't request to do that."

Former Scotland world Deborah McCormack said she felt sorry for Ireland arsenic nan determination not to reappraisal nan incident successful nan crippled could person had an effect connected nan result of nan quarter-final.

"It could person had an effect connected nan crippled if it was looked astatine at nan time," said McCormack.

"It wasn't looked astatine but evidently it will beryllium now. I consciousness for Ireland because it could person had an effect connected that game.

"We don't want this successful our game."

When asked by BBC Sport if nan incident had been discussed by nan Irish team, effort scorer Stacey Flood said it was "down to nan officials connected nan day".

"We conscionable person to get connected pinch it and it's not our determination to make," Flood said.

"I deliberation it was said to nan referee, but if it wasn't taken up past there's thing we tin do astir it.

"We conscionable person to unrecorded successful nan infinitesimal and attraction connected our adjacent job.

"Hopefully it does get looked astatine but that's not up to us."

Irish caput coach Scott Bemand said he had not seen nan incident but felt his activity group had done each they could to item it to Barrett-Theron.

"I'm not going to get drawn into thing astatine this point. I haven't seen anything. I've virtually stepped successful here," Bemand added successful his post-match property conference.

"I deliberation successful position of process, your on-pitch activity would mention to nan referee, and it's up to nan squad officials to woody pinch it should they spot fresh astatine that point.

"If location are bits to pursue, we could perchance beryllium disappointed, but we've followed nan process arsenic champion we tin from our position successful position of nan on-pitch activity conversations."