Eben Etzebeth Eye Gouge Lands Springboks Legend A Lengthy Ban
Eben Etzebeth Eye Gouge Lands Springboks Legend A Lengthy Ban
Eben Etzebeth receives a 12-week suspension for intentional eye contact on Wales’ Alex Mann, ruling him out of key Sharks matches in Europe and the URC.
South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 weeks after an independent disciplinary committee ruled that he intentionally made contact with the eye of Wales forward Alex Mann during last weekend’s Autumn Nations Series test in Cardiff.
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The incident occurred in the closing seconds of South Africa’s 73-0 win at Principality Stadium.
Etzebeth, earning his 141st cap, had entered the match as a replacement when a skirmish broke out near the breakdown. After a TMO review, the referee issued a red card for what officials deemed clear contact from Etzebeth’s thumb into Mann’s eye area.
In its findings, the disciplinary committee described the act as intentional.
Under World Rugby sanctioning guidelines, an intentional eye gouge carries a mid-range entry point of 18 weeks. The panel removed six weeks based on mitigating factors, including Etzebeth’s previously clean record at the test level. He had never been sent off in international rugby prior to this incident.
Etzebeth, who plays his club rugby for the Sharks, will miss 12 fixtures across the Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship. He will be eligible to return in April 2026. South Africa’s next test window does not arrive until July 2026, when the Springboks are set to host England in the inaugural Nations Championship.
The suspension covers the following matches for the Sharks:
- Dec. 7, 2025: Toulouse vs. Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
- Dec. 13, 2025: Sharks vs. Saracens, EPCR Champions Cup
- Dec. 20, 2025: Sharks vs. Bulls, United Rugby Championship
- Jan. 3, 2026: Lions vs. Sharks, United Rugby Championship
- Jan. 10, 2026: Sale Sharks vs. Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
- Jan. 17, 2026: Sharks vs. Clermont, EPCR Champions Cup
- Jan. 24, 2026: Stormers vs. Sharks, United Rugby Championship
- Jan. 31, 2026: Sharks vs. Stormers, United Rugby Championship
- Feb. 21, 2026: Sharks vs. Lions, United Rugby Championship
- Feb. 28, 2026: Bulls vs. Sharks, United Rugby Championship
- March 21, 2026: Sharks vs. Munster, United Rugby Championship
- March 27, 2026: Sharks vs. Cardiff Rugby, United Rugby Championship
In its formal statement, the disciplinary body said: "South Africa No. 19, Eben Etzebeth, appeared before an independent disciplinary committee via video link, having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.12 in the match between South Africa and Wales on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
"Having considered the player's and other evidence and reviewed the footage, and for the reasons set out in the full written decision, which is available now in the discipline section of the Six Nations Rugby website, the disciplinary committee has determined that contact with the eye was intentional and a mid-range entry point of 18 weeks or matches was appropriate.
"Some mitigating factors, including the player's previous record, were applied by the committee, reducing the 18-week entry point by six weeks to 12 weeks or matches."
The ruling removes one of the Sharks’ most influential forwards for a prolonged stretch in a critical part of their season, with both European and domestic campaigns entering decisive phases.
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Friday, Dec. 5
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Saturday, Dec. 6
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Sunday, Dec. 7
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- 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
Dec. 7-9 (TBD)
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