Eben Etzebeth fate revealed as Springboks star learns punishment for eye-gouge against Wales
Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth handed 12-week suspension.
Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth has been handed a 12-week ban by an independent Disciplinary Committee following his red card for eye-gouging Wales back-row Alex Mann.
The 34-year-old was given his marching orders by referee Luc Ramos in the 79th minute of the recent Autumn Nations Series fixture at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Etzebeth, who has 141 caps for South Africa and was a replacement in last Saturday’s match, appeared at the hearing via a video link before his punishment was decided.
12-game punishment
He will now miss 12 matches for his club side the Sharks which will initially impact on their Investec Champions Cup games and then United Rugby Championship fixtures.
Footage from the Wales v Springboks clash showed Etzebeth making contact with the eye area of Mann in an ill-tempered finish to the match which South Africa won 73-0.
This was the veteran’s first red card in a professional fixture and he will not play rugby again until the end of March 2026, leaving the Sharks without a key leader up front.
The decision from the independent disciplinary panel was expected to be made on Tuesday but they took extra time to deliberate and decide on the second-row’s sanction.
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The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC. He was joined by former international players Leon Lloyd and Becky Essex (both England).
“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,” read a release.
“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 18 weeks/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/matches.”
Etzebeth was the third Springboks player to receive a red card during the Autumn Nations Series as he followed Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager from previous matches.
However, it did not impact on South Africa who won all of their end-of-year fixtures, against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales to wrap up a hugely successful 2025.
Etzebeth’s suspension will cover the following matches:
7 December 2025 – Toulouse v Sharks, Investec Champions Cup
13 December 2025 – Sharks v Saracens, Investec Champions Cup
20 December 2025 – Sharks v Bulls, United Rugby Championship
3 January 2026 – Lions v Sharks, United Rugby Championship
10 January 2026 – Sale Sharks v Sharks, Investec Champions Cup
17 January 2026 – Sharks v Clermont, Investec Champions Cup
24 January 2026 – Stormers v Sharks, United Rugby Championship
31 January 2026 – Sharks v Stormers, United Rugby Championship
21 February 2026 – Sharks v Lions, United Rugby Championship
28 February 2026 – Bulls v Sharks, United Rugby Championship
21 March 2026 – Sharks v Munster, United Rugby Championship
27 March 2026 – Sharks v Cardiff, United Rugby Championship
