France lose star halfback Laure Sansus

France has lost one of it’s star players while suspension could rule out an Australian for the rest of the Rugby World Cup.

Laure Sansus
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

France’s scrum-half Laure Sansus has retired from rugby after her World Cup was ended by a knee injury.

Sansus left the field injured during the first half of Saturday’s 13-7 pool-stage loss to England.

The 2022 Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship tore her anterior cruciate ligament and will be replaced by centre Marie Dupouy.

“We never choose our exit and my situation is a perfect example,” said Sansus, who will remain in New Zealand.

“I would of course have preferred to end my career a different way. While the World Cup has ended for me this Saturday, it continues for France.

“I cannot compete on the pitch with my team-mates, but I will be just as relentless with my support from the stands. I will be their number one fan!”

Sansus’ injury means her partner Pauline Bourdon is likely to take the starting nine shirt, with Alexandra Chambon, who has just six caps, the other scrum-half in the squad.

France are one of the main World Cup contenders alongside England and hosts New Zealand, and will look to secure a quarter-final spot in their final pool game against Fiji on Saturday.

Meanwhile Australia front row, Ashley Marsters, has been suspended for three weeks after being red carded for a dangerous tackle in Saturday’s win over Scotland.

A tournament judiciary statement said the player didn’t accept that she had committed the act of foul play or that the offence was worthy of a red card.

The judiciary thought otherwise with the penalty starting at six weeks but being reduced to three because of mitigating circumstances.

Marsters will miss Australia’s last pool game against Wales and the next two games of the tournament if they progress through the knockout stage.

Fellow Australian front rower Adiana Talakai, who was also sent off in a dramatic last ten minutes of that game against Scotland, is free to play after the judiciary decided her red card required no further sanction.

-BBC/RNZ