By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been handed 12 match ban after being found guilty of intentional contact with the eye of Wales back-row Alex Mann.
The incident occurred in the final minute of the Springboks’ Autumn Nations Series Test against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with South Africa already 73-0 ahead.
Etzebeth – who holds a record 141 Test caps – emerged into the contest as a replacement and was shown a red card following a TMO review after making contact with his thumb into the eye of Mann during a skirmish.
An independent disciplinary panel met on Tuesday, but took an extra 24 hours deliberation to decide on a sanction.
Led by Christopher Quinlan KC, the panel found that contact with the eye was intentional and a “mid-range” entry point of 18 weeks was appropriate. Mitigating factors including the player’s previous record meant that was reduced to 12 weeks.
Etzebeth was the third South African forward to be shown a red card in four matches this autumn after Franco Mostert, against Italy, and Lood de Jaeger against France.
Mostert’s red was later rescinded by a disciplinary panel and downgraded to a yellow.
World Rugby’s sanctions for eye-gouging – described as “intentional contact with the eyes” – run from a ban ranging from 12 weeks at the low end, to a maximum of four years.
Bans for “reckless contact with the eyes” can range from six weeks to four years. Bans for “contact with the eye area” range from four weeks to one year.
Etzebeth, who plays for Sharks will miss their next 12 fixtures across the Champions Cup and URC, and will not be free to play again until April 2026.