‘Springbok head hunters at it again’ – Franco Mostert controversially shown a permanent red card against Italy
Franco Mostert and the tackle that led to the Springboks' red card.
Franco Mostert is the second Springboks lock to be red carded in a Test match in as many weekends following his tackle on Italy’s Paolo Garbisi.
Much like Lood de Jager’s permanent red card against France, Mostert made the hit after an initial tackle was made by a teammate.
Franco Mostert red card
Centre Ethan Hooker made the first contact with the Italian fly-half, with the Bok lock coming into add his weight to hit.
While play initially continued, referee James Doleman was notified by his TMO Tual Trainini that an act of foul play may have occurred.
Doleman and his assistants Ben O’Keeffe and Jérémy Rozier reviewed the tackle and deemed that Mostert was always illegal, which then removed any mitigation and meant that the Bok lock was issued with a permanent sending off.
After the July internationals, World Rugby tweaked the 20-minute red card process to include incidents where the player is deemed to be committing an offence that is ‘always an illegal action with a high degree of danger’ now reaching the permanent red card threshold.
This aligns with the Head Contact Process, so once Doleman and his team deemed that his actions were always, a full red card was the only possible outcome.
Springboks greats accuse officials of ‘fabricating’ events to red card Franco Mostert
🟥 Franco Mostert’s red card.
Insane decision. #ITAvRSA pic.twitter.com/PskZt8S2hu
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) November 15, 2025
Social media reaction
Unsurprisingly, social media platform X exploded in reaction to the sending off.
“Rugby is becoming a joke!! Mostert didn’t nothing wrong there!! Why is it even being looked at? Ridiculous,” Springbok fan Gills wrote.
Irishman Jeff Neville added: “Mostert with a straight red. Second weekend in a row for South Africa. Kleyn to play in Dublin next weekend, it would seem. (IMO a harsh red.)”
Irish journalist Rúaidhrí O’Connor wrote: “The Springbok head hunters at it again.. a second straight red in a row, this time Franco Mostert. Down another lock for Dublin, Ireland might just win a lineout at this stage.”
“Looked like Mostert hit the chest to me, not head. And I thought Lood’s straight red was the correct decision,” Sardieq wrote.
Broadcaster Rupert Cox added: “I’m not sure Mostert has even made actual contact with the head of Garbisi there. No HIA and he seemed to be dipping slightly too. Big call.”
