A France star has been handed a 12-game ban for biting an opponent however that suspension pales compared to the video games’ most critical punishments
Chris Jones says he had a “horrible” popularity throughout his enjoying profession (Picture: South Wales Echo)
French rugby star Axelle Berthoumieu has been hit with a hefty ban for biting an opponent throughout her group’s quarter-final victory on the Girls’s Rugby World Cup.
The back-rower was filmed seemingly biting Eire’s Aoife Wafer throughout Sunday’s last-eight conflict, which France managed to win 18-13 regardless of being 13-0 down on the time of the incident. Regardless of Wafer’s protestations to the referee, no motion was taken on the time, with the tv match official stating there wasn’t sufficient proof to ship off Berthoumieu.
Nonetheless, following widespread outrage over the incident, Berthoumieu was later cited and has now acquired an enormous 12-match ban after admitting she dedicated a red-card offence. Though she plans to attraction towards the ban, because it stands, Berthoumieu will not have the ability to return to the rugby pitch till March subsequent yr.
Regardless of this ban being one of the extreme handed out in 2025, it’s dwarfed by a number of the greatest suspensions in rugby historical past. From stunning assaults to drug offences and a infamous dishonest try, this is a take a look at a few of rugby’s most critical offenders.
All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick was infamously bitten on the ear by le Roux throughout a Check in Wellington in 1994, resulting in the Springboks prop being banned from rugby for 19 months. The South Africa RFU president condemned his actions, stating he had “introduced disgrace” to the nation.
Le Roux, who was 32 on the time, described the incident as a “second of insanity”. Nonetheless, he later remarked: “For an 18-month suspension, I really feel I most likely ought to have torn it off. Then no less than I might say I’ve returned to South Africa with the man’s ear.”
Richard Nones (Two years)
Former Colomiers prop Nones acquired a two-year ban, the utmost penalty for gouging, after concentrating on Pontypridd tighthead Sven Cronk throughout a Heineken Cup conflict at Sardis Highway in 1999. Greater than 25 years later, this stays the longest ban handed out for an act of violence on a Welsh rugby discipline within the skilled period.
Keep up-to-date with the most recent rugby information Be part of us on WhatsApp
Our group members are handled to particular gives, promotions, and adverts from us and our companions. You possibly can take a look at at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Julien Caminati (33 months)
A French fourth division winger, Caminati was simply 18 when he was initially banned for 3 years for spitting at a referee. This suspension was lowered to 26 months when he signed for Good. Nonetheless, after transferring to Brive, he was expelled from the sport for an extra six months on account of a drug offence, and acquired an extra three weeks for punching an opponent.
Bruno Andres Doglioli (Three years)
In a stunning act of brutality, the skipper of Italian Serie A outfit Rangers Rugby Vicenza savagely attacked feminine referee Maria Beatrice Benvenuti from behind, sending her crashing to the turf and inflicting whiplash accidents.
Astonishingly, the Argentine acquired merely a yellow card from Benvenuti, who courageously continued officiating regardless of the assault. Nonetheless, he was subsequently suspended by his membership earlier than copping a three-year sporting ban.
The Italian Rugby Federation declared: “wish to reiterate that this sanction – the heaviest within the final 20 years – underlines that in the case of infringing the principles of the sport and, above all, the basic values of our sport, we’ll present zero tolerance”.
Dean Richards (Three years)
The previous Harlequins group boss was slapped with a three-year suspension in 2009 for his involvement within the infamous ‘Bloodgate’ controversy that dragged rugby by means of the mud. A nail-biting Heineken Cup conflict was getting into its dying moments with Quins trailing 6-5 to Leinster and desperately needing their specialist goal-kicker on the pitch to grab victory.
Nonetheless, with fly-half Nick Evans already substituted earlier, their final remaining alternative to carry him again on to the sector required a blood substitution for one more participant. In consequence, Quins winger Tom Williams swiftly departed the sector with ‘blood’ streaming from his mouth, nevertheless it later transpired he had bitten right into a pretend blood capsule to feign harm.
Williams and physio Steph Brennan have been additionally handed bans alongside Richards, who made a return to rugby after his ban expired. He led Newcastle Falcons to the second division title in 2013 and remained with the Premiership facet as their Director of Rugby till 2022, earlier than stepping all the way down to work as a part-time advisor for the membership.
Richards was banned for rugby for 3 years (Picture: undefined)
Trevor Brennan (5 years)
The Irish ahead was on the centre of stunning scenes throughout his Toulouse facet’s conflict with Ulster in 2007, when he leapt into the group and assaulted an opposition fan whereas warming as much as enter the pitch. He later claimed that he had been provoked by abuse in direction of his mom.
Earlier than the end result of the disciplinary course of was introduced, Brennan introduced his retirement from the sport on the age of 33. He was subsequently banned for all times from enjoying rugby, fined £17,000 and ordered to pay an extra £3,000 to the fan he attacked. Nonetheless, the ban was later lowered to 5 years following an attraction.
Cipriano Martinez (29 years)
The Argentine prop shocked rugby followers around the globe when footage of him violently kicking an opponent within the head throughout an newbie match circulated on-line in 2016. His sufferer, San Albano lock Juan Masi, was already on the bottom when Martinez kicked him, main his membership, Pucara, to promptly concern a 99-year ban towards him.
He then acquired an official sanction from the Buenos Aires Rugby Union, who suspended him for 1,508 weeks – the equal of 29 years.
Grootfontein Rugby Membership participant (banned for all times)
An unnamed participant from Grootfontein Rugby Membership in Namibia was handed a lifetime ban after he shockingly tackled a referee throughout a match towards Reho Falcons in Might final yr. The footage exhibits the participant strolling away from his teammates, then abruptly turning and charging on the official with a brutal sort out.
After recovering from the hit, the referee confirmed the participant a purple card and ended the match early on account of security considerations. A subsequent disciplinary listening to resulted within the participant receiving a lifetime ban from enjoying and a 156-week suspension from all types of rugby.
Pablo De La Plata (banned for all times)
Throughout an Argentine membership match between Huazihul San Juan and Private Financial institution Mendoza in June 2016, a mass brawl broke out leading to 9 gamers from each groups receiving important bans for his or her involvement within the violence. Nonetheless, it was De La Plata of Huazihul who acquired the harshest punishment – a lifetime suspension, or till December 31, 2041.
His teammates Jose Maria Araoz and Carlos De La Plata have been banned for 10 years, whereas group captain Nicolas De La Plata was suspended for 3 years. Two extra gamers acquired bans of 1 and two years respectively.
Former Treorchy entrance row Chris Jones (Picture: Western Mail and Echo Copyright)
Michel Palmie (banned for all times)
The formidable French lock earned notoriety as considered one of rugby’s most ruthless opponents, with claims that he “punched and gouged his means from Paris to Toulouse”.
In 1978, his enjoying days got here to an abrupt finish when he acquired a lifetime ban for punching Racing Membership’s Armand Clerc within the face, leaving his sufferer partially blind in a single eye. Remarkably, nevertheless, Palmie later secured a place as an official throughout the French Rugby Federation.
Chris Jones (banned for all times, twice)
The previous Treorchy prop secured his legacy as considered one of rugby’s most infamous unhealthy boys by reaching the extraordinary feat of receiving not one, however two lifetime bans.
By his personal account, he was a “wild man” on the sector who would not hesitate to kick, punch or stamp on rivals, while even conserving an axe in his equipment bag.
His preliminary lifetime suspension adopted a sending-off for brawling with an opponent, just some matches after getting back from a six-month ban.
Following an attraction to the Welsh Rugby Union, he was permitted to return after lower than two years, solely to obtain his second lifetime ban for flooring an opposition participant inside only a handful of comeback matches.
Tennis information, scores and event outcomes plus chosen gives and competitions Subscribe Invalid e-mail
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
“It was the legislation of the jungle,” he later informed WalesOnline. “The sport was exhausting and also you needed to be powerful to outlive in it. I used to be ready to do completely something – boot, punch, kick, gouge, no matter it took.
“I had a horrible popularity. Completely horrible. Folks used to name me a psychopath and a wild man. It is nothing to boast about. It is simply the best way that it was.”
Leave a Reply