Italian rugby player given 12-game ban for biting during World Cup

An Italian rugby player has been banned for 12 games after biting an opponent during her team’s World Cup clash against Japan.

Italian rugby player Sara Tounesi has been banned for 12 matches after biting an opponent during her team’s Rugby World Cup clash in New Zealand.

The 25-Test lock denied any wrongdoing, but World Rugby’s judiciary found she intentionally bit Japanese flanker Iroha Nagata during Italy’s 21-8 win over Japan.

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The incident occurred as Nagata attempted to jackal the ball from Tounesi in a tackle, with the judiciary finding Tounesi deliberately turned her head towards Nagata’s hand before biting down.

Tounesi claimed this footage showed her calling out, “la balla, la balla”, telling her teammates the ball was available, but the judiciary said it did not appear she was talking.

Excerpts from the judicial report show Tounesi’s mouth (bottom left) closing around Nagata’s hand. Picture: World Rugby.

A statement from Nagata said she felt two bites during the tackle, the first one she dismissed as accidental, before a second stronger bite over “a few seconds” convinced her to make a complaint.

During a break in play, referee Maggie Cogger-Orr could be heard asking Nagata, “Someone bit you?”

In a statement, Cogger-Orr said Nagata’s hand showed no signs of teeth marks, but was inflamed.

With no clear evidence emerging from footage during the game, though, Tounesi was able to continue playing.

The 12-week suspension is the first of her career, having never been given a red card before, and Tounesi told the judiciary she was “proud to represent her country and felt shame to be accused of such foul play”.

Her clean record afforded a further six weeks of the ban, which was initially meant to be 18 weeks, to be deducted.

The incident has marred Italy’s win, having secured them a quarter-final berth against France for which Tounesi be unable to take the field.

Tounesi winning the ball in a lineout against Japan. Picture: Hannah Peters/World Rugby/Getty Images.

Fifth-ranked Italy will take on fourth-ranked France in New Zealand on Saturday for a place in the semi final.

Meanwhile, Australia faces the mammoth challenge of world number one England on Sunday after close wins over Scotland and Wales secured their finals spot.

England currently hold the record for most consecutive wins, an ongoing run of 28 victories and counting that includes last week’s 75-0 routing of South Africa.

Originally published as Italian rugby player given 12-game ban for biting during World Cup