Eben Etzebeth Eye-Gouge Lands Springbok Legend A Lengthy Ban
Eben Etzebeth Eye-Gouge Lands Springbok Legend A Lengthy Ban
Eben Etzebeth receives a twelve 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 twelve 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 one hundred and forty-first 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 now miss twelve 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 they are set to host England in the inaugural Nations Championship.
The suspension covers the following matches for the Sharks:
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 its formal statement, the disciplinary body said: "South Africa number nineteen, 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 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 have determined that contact with the eye was intentional and a mid-range entry point of eighteen weeks or matches was appropriate.
"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 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
- 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
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Saturday, Dec. 6
- 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
- 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
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Sunday, Dec. 7
- 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
Dec. 7-9 (TBD)
- Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD