New Zealand referee Maggie Cogger-Orr during the Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand referee Maggie Cogger-Orr has been given the biggest assignment of her career after being confirmed to take charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and France.
It will be a first semifinal for the Kiwi, her fourth match of the tournament and her 28th test in the middle overall.
South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will referee the first semifinal between the Black Ferns and Canada, which isn’t a great omen for the world No 2 side.
Barrett-Theron was also in charge of Canada’s semifinal at the last World Cup when they lost 26-19 to England at Eden Park.
Canada are looking to make the final for the first time since 2014.
“Being chosen for a Rugby World Cup semifinal is a pinnacle moment for both players and match officials,” chair of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Committee Su Carty said.
“It’s a remarkable achievement and a great honour. I wholeheartedly congratulate Aimee, Maggie, and the entire team. I am confident they will embrace this occasion, relish the experience, and represent our match officials with pride and distinction.”
France duo out of Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final as bans upheld
Meanwhile France’s Axelle Berthoumieu will miss the rest of the Women’s Rugby World Cup after an appeal panel upheld a ban for biting during last weekend’s quarter-final against Ireland.
French coach Gaelle Mignot also confirmed that first five-eighth Lina Queyroi had not recovered from a concussion against Ireland and, like banned pair Berthoumieu and co-captain Manae Feleu, would miss the semifinal in Bristol against top seeds England.
Berthoumieu had appealed a 12-match ban for biting against Ireland and while the panel reduced her suspension to nine games she cannot play Sunday.
The 25-year-old will also miss the September 27 finals day at Twickenham, when France will either be involved in a third-place play-off or the final itself.
Feleu is out for the remainder of the tournament after losing her appeal against a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle, also during the 18-13 win over Ireland in Exeter.
Under the disciplinary process at the World Cup, there is now no further right of appeal for either player.
Berthoumieu was cited for biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer.
She accepted she had committed a red-card offence but appealed against the length of her ban.
Berthoumieu in an Instagram post published Tuesday, apologised for her actions by saying: “On Sunday during the match against Ireland, I lost my nerve.
“I know it’s unacceptable and I’m aware that it puts an end to my World Cup.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to Aoife Wafer and the Irish team, to my teammates and our staff, to the FFR (French rugby federation), and to all those who support us.
“This is not the image I want to give or the player I want to be. I accept the punishment, and I take responsibility.
“Rugby is a sport of respect, and this gesture has no place on a rugby field.”
France were losing 13-0 at the time of the offence.
Ireland captain Sam Monaghan said she raised the incident with the referee, but no action was taken at the time as, according to a World Rugby statement issued Monday, the television match official was “unable to determine clear and obvious foul play”.
The appeal panel, working off a starting point of an 18-week suspension for biting, ruled that in light of Berthoumieu’s admission of guilt, her clean disciplinary record and her remorse and public apology, she was entitled to full mitigation of 50 percent -- hence a nine-week ban.
The appeal panel added it “determined no grounds for change” in upholding the three-game ban imposed on Feleu.
This will be reduced to two if she completes a course at World Rugby’s ‘tackle school’ but her World Cup is over.
Mignot said three France players had suffered head injuries against Ireland.
She added that while prop Rose Bernadou and centre Gabrielle Vernier “are doing very well and are eligible to play this weekend”.
“For Lina Queyroi, it’s different,” Mignot explained.
“She did not respond favourably to the protocol. It will take several more days,” with the coach adding Carla Arbez would start instead.
France have lost their last 16 Tests against England, but only fell a point short after an extraordinary comeback during a dramatic 43-42 defeat in a Women’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham in April.
The winner of Sunday’s match will face either reigning champions New Zealand or Canada in the World Cup final.
- With AFP