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15th September 2025
10:15am BST
Ireland were once again knocked out of a rugby World Cup at the quarter-final stage, with France winning 18-13 in Exeter on Sunday.
Despite leading 13-0 at half-time, the Ireland women's team were pegged back by the French, in a game that finished in dramatic fashion.
With the clock in the red, Ireland had a lineout, five metres from the French line.
However, when it was thrown in, the French jumper stretched and got a hand to the ball, despite not being in a realistic position to catch, and denied Ireland the chance to regather possession.
18+, BeGambleAware
The referee put her hand out for advantage to the Irish, but with France gaining possession of the loose ball, she had to blow for full-time, with the ball considered dead.
In rugby, the game continues if a penalty is awarded, but not if it is a scrum, despite the fact that, in this incidence, it is advantageous to the side who committed the infringement.
A clear flaw in the rules, and something that will surely be looked at by the governing body.
If you can do this then a lot more teams will do it
— Gerry Dore (@gd8054) September 14, 2025
How can a match be blown up because the defending team knocked on??? Should be an attacking scrum.
— Tom O’Hanlon (@TomOHanlon17) September 14, 2025
Very unfair on Ireland 🇮🇪🏉
After the game, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand said: "First of all, well done to France. That was a really hard Test match to play with the conditions and the occasion. It was a winner takes all game, and we pushed them hard. There are a few moments that were game-changing moments. We will grow with experience and we'll get better in those moments."
Centre Eve Higgins added: "We're just sad. We came very close to a semi-final. That was the goal. We had moments where we knew we could have scored the points that would have been be enough. Full credit, we put in a huge shift. It was a 90-minute performance and we couldn't have asked for more. We're just proud."
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