Eben Etzebeth: South Africa lock handed 12-week ban for 'intentional' eye gouge on Alex Mann vs Wales

[ad_1] South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been handed a 12-week suspension for what an unbiased disciplinary committee thought of an 'intentional' eye gouge of Wales' Alex Mann final Saturday.

The incident occurred within the last 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 file 141 Check caps for South Africa - emerged into the competition as a substitute and was proven a pink card following a TMO evaluate after making contact together with his thumb into the attention of Mann throughout a skirmish.

The disciplinary committee thought of 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 file,' 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.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/11/768x432/skysports-etzebeth-south-africa_7095698.jpg?20251129175149" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/11/384x216/skysports-etzebeth-south-africa_7095698.jpg?20251129175149 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/11/768x432/skysports-etzebeth-south-africa_7095698.jpg?20251129175149 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/11/1600x900/skysports-etzebeth-south-africa_7095698.jpg?20251129175149 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/11/2048x1152/skysports-etzebeth-south-africa_7095698.jpg?20251129175149 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Etzebeth" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Etzebeth was dismissed within the last minute vs Wales in Cardiff final weekend, regardless of South Africa already being 73-0 forward 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 quantity 19, Eben Etzebeth, appeared earlier than an unbiased Disciplinary Committee by way of video hyperlink having obtained a pink card for an act of foul play opposite to Legislation 9.12 within the match between South Africa and Wales on Saturday 22 November 2025.

"Having thought of the Participant's and different proof and reviewed the footage, and for the explanations set out within the full written choice [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 applicable.

"Some mitigating elements, together with the Participant's earlier file, have been utilized by the Committee decreasing the eighteen week entry level by six weeks to 12 weeks/matches."