Rugby's biggest ever ban saw 'wild man' hit with two lifetime suspensions

French rugby star Axelle Berthoumieu has been hit with a hefty ban for biting an opponent during her team's quarter-final victory at the Women's Rugby World Cup.

The back-rower was filmed seemingly biting Ireland's Aoife Wafer during Sunday's last-eight clash, which France managed to win 18-13 despite being 13-0 down at the time of the incident. Despite Wafer's protestations to the referee, no action was taken at the time, with the television match official stating there wasn't enough evidence to send off Berthoumieu.

However, following widespread outrage over the incident, Berthoumieu was later cited and has now received a huge 12-match ban after admitting she committed a red-card offence. Although she plans to appeal against the ban, as it stands, Berthoumieu won't be able to return to the rugby pitch until March next year.

Despite this ban being one of the most severe handed out in 2025, it is dwarfed by some of the biggest suspensions in rugby history. From shocking assaults to drug offences and a notorious cheating attempt, here's a look at some of rugby's most serious offenders.

Johan le Roux (19 months)

All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick was infamously bitten on the ear by le Roux during a Test in Wellington in 1994, leading to the Springboks prop being banned from rugby for 19 months. The South Africa RFU president condemned his actions, stating he had "brought shame" to the country.

Le Roux, who was 32 at the time, described the incident as a "moment of madness". However, he later remarked: "For an 18-month suspension, I feel I probably should have torn it off. Then at least I could say I've returned to South Africa with the guy's ear."

Richard Nones (Two years)

Former Colomiers prop Nones received a two-year ban, the maximum penalty for gouging, after targeting Pontypridd tighthead Sven Cronk during a Heineken Cup clash at Sardis Road in 1999. More than 25 years later, this remains the longest ban handed out for an act of violence on a Welsh rugby field in the professional era.

Julien Caminati (33 months)

A French fourth division winger, Caminati was just 18 when he was initially banned for three years for spitting at a referee. This suspension was reduced to 26 months when he signed for Nice. However, after moving to Brive, he was expelled from the game for an additional six months due to a drug offence, and received a further three weeks for punching an opponent.

Bruno Andres Doglioli (Three years)

In a shocking act of brutality, the skipper of Italian Serie A outfit Rangers Rugby Vicenza savagely attacked female referee Maria Beatrice Benvenuti from behind, sending her crashing to the turf and causing whiplash injuries.

Astonishingly, the Argentine received merely a yellow card from Benvenuti, who courageously continued officiating despite the assault. However, he was subsequently suspended by his club before copping a three-year sporting ban.

The Italian Rugby Federation declared: "would like to reiterate that this sanction - the heaviest in the last 20 years - underlines that when it comes to infringing the rules of the game and, above all, the fundamental values of our sport, we will show zero tolerance".

Dean Richards (Three years)

The former Harlequins team boss was slapped with a three-year suspension in 2009 for his involvement in the notorious 'Bloodgate' controversy that dragged rugby through the mud. A nail-biting Heineken Cup clash was entering its dying moments with Quins trailing 6-5 to Leinster and desperately needing their specialist goal-kicker on the pitch to snatch victory.

However, with fly-half Nick Evans already substituted earlier, their last remaining opportunity to bring him back on to the field required a blood substitution for another player. As a result, Quins winger Tom Williams swiftly departed the field with 'blood' streaming from his mouth, but it later transpired he had bitten into a fake blood capsule to feign injury.

Williams and physio Steph Brennan were also 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 side as their Director of Rugby until 2022, before stepping down to work as a part-time consultant for the club.

Trevor Brennan (Five years)

The Irish forward was at the centre of shocking scenes during his Toulouse side's clash with Ulster in 2007, when he leapt into the crowd and assaulted an opposition fan while warming up to enter the pitch. He later claimed that he had been provoked by abuse towards his mother.

Before the outcome of the disciplinary process was announced, Brennan announced his retirement from the game at the age of 33. He was subsequently banned for life from playing rugby, fined £17,000 and ordered to pay a further £3,000 to the fan he attacked. However, the ban was later reduced to five years following an appeal.

Cipriano Martinez (29 years)

The Argentine prop shocked rugby fans around the world when footage of him violently kicking an opponent in the head during an amateur match circulated online in 2016. His victim, San Albano lock Juan Masi, was already on the ground when Martinez kicked him, leading his club, Pucara, to promptly issue a 99-year ban against him.

He then received an official sanction from the Buenos Aires Rugby Union, who suspended him for 1,508 weeks - the equivalent of 29 years.

Grootfontein Rugby Club player (banned for life)

An unnamed player from Grootfontein Rugby Club in Namibia was handed a lifetime ban after he shockingly tackled a referee during a match against Reho Falcons in May last year. The footage shows the player walking away from his teammates, then suddenly turning and charging at the official with a brutal tackle.

After recovering from the hit, the referee showed the player a red card and ended the match early due to safety concerns. A subsequent disciplinary hearing resulted in the player receiving a lifetime ban from playing and a 156-week suspension from all forms of rugby.

Pablo De La Plata (banned for life)

During an Argentine club match between Huazihul San Juan and Personal Bank Mendoza in June 2016, a mass brawl broke out resulting in nine players from both teams receiving significant bans for their involvement in the violence. However, it was De La Plata of Huazihul who received the harshest punishment - a lifetime suspension, or until December 31, 2041.

His teammates Jose Maria Araoz and Carlos De La Plata were banned for 10 years, while team captain Nicolas De La Plata was suspended for three years. Two additional players received bans of one and two years respectively.

Michel Palmie (banned for life)

The formidable French lock earned notoriety as one of rugby's most ruthless competitors, with claims that he "punched and gouged his way from Paris to Toulouse".

In 1978, his playing days came to an abrupt end when he received a lifetime ban for punching Racing Club's Armand Clerc in the face, leaving his victim partially blind in one eye. Remarkably, however, Palmie later secured a position as an official within the French Rugby Federation.

Chris Jones (banned for life, twice)

The former Treorchy prop secured his legacy as one of rugby's most notorious bad boys by achieving the extraordinary feat of receiving not one, but two lifetime bans.

By his own account, he was a "wild man" on the field who wouldn't hesitate to kick, punch or stamp on rivals, whilst even keeping an axe in his kit bag.

His initial lifetime suspension followed a sending-off for brawling with an opponent, just a few matches after returning from a six-month ban.

Following an appeal to the Welsh Rugby Union, he was permitted to return after less than two years, only to receive his second lifetime ban for flooring an opposition player within just a handful of comeback matches.

"It was the law of the jungle," he later told WalesOnline. "The game was hard and you had to be tough to survive in it. I was prepared to do absolutely anything - boot, punch, kick, gouge, whatever it took.

"I had a terrible reputation. Absolutely terrible. People used to call me a psychopath and a wild man. It's nothing to boast about. It's just the way that it was."