South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been handed a 12-week suspension for what an impartial disciplinary committee thought-about an ‘intentional’ eye gouge of Wales’ Alex Mann final Saturday.
The incident occurred within the remaining minute of the Springboks’ Autumn Nations Sequence Check towards Wales on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with South Africa already 73-0 forward.
Etzebeth – who holds a report 141 Check caps for South Africa – emerged into the competition as a alternative and was proven a pink card following a TMO assessment after making contact together with his thumb into the attention of Mann throughout a skirmish.
The disciplinary committee thought-about Etzebeth’s act ‘intentional’ and when it comes to sanction, a mid-range entry level of 18 weeks was utilized. Six weeks of this was eliminated owing to Etzebeth’s ‘earlier report,’ having by no means been despatched off in Check rugby beforehand.
A participant with the Sharks at membership degree, Etzebeth will miss their subsequent 12 fixtures throughout the Champions Cup and URC, and won’t be free to play once more till April 2026.
South Africa don’t play once more till July 2026, once they host England within the inaugural Nations Championship.
The suspension will cowl the next matches;
• 7 December 2025 – Toulouse vs Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
• 13 December 2025 – Sharks vs Saracens, EPCR Champions Cup
• 20 December 2025 – Sharks vs Bulls, United Rugby Championship
• 3 January 2026 – Lions vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
• 10 January 2026 – Sale Sharks vs Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
• 17 January 2026 – Sharks vs Clermont, EPCR Champions Cup
• 24 January 2026 – Stormers vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
• 31 January 2026 – Sharks vs Stormers, United Rugby Championship
• 21 February 2026 – Sharks vs Lions, United Rugby Championship
• 28 February 2026 – Bulls vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
• 21 March 2026 – Sharks vs Munster, United Rugby Championship
• 27 March 2026 – Sharks vs Cardiff Rugby, United Rugby Championship
In an official assertion, the disciplinary physique mentioned: “South Africa number 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 22 November 2025.
“Having thought-about the Participant’s and different proof and reviewed the footage, and for the explanations set out within the full written resolution [which is available now in the discipline section of the Six Nations Rugby website], the Disciplinary Committee have decided that contact with the attention was intentional and a mid-range entry level of eighteen weeks/matches was acceptable.
“Some mitigating factors, including the Player’s previous record, were applied by the Committee reducing the eighteen week entry point by six weeks to twelve weeks/matches.”
