South Africa’s double World Cup-winning lock Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 weeks after an independent disciplinary panel ruled he intentionally made contact with the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann during the Springboks’ 73–0 demolition in Cardiff last weekend.
The 34-year-old, shown a straight red in the 79th minute—his first in 141 Tests—was judged to have committed a mid-range offence carrying an 18-week starting point, reduced to 12 due to his previously clean record.
The ban sidelines him from all Sharks fixtures in the URC and Champions Cup until late March 2026.
Etzebeth is the third Bok forward sent off this autumn, though Franco Mostert’s red was later downgraded, and the case highlights World Rugby’s strict sanctions for eye contact, which can extend up to four years for the most serious offences.
He’s very lucky he wasn’t banned for life. Eye gauging is such a despicably low act. Shame on him.