South Africa star Eben Etzebeth will be sidelined for 12 weeks after being suspended for eye gouging during the Springboks’ clash against Wales last weekend.
The suspension, confirmed on Thursday, will see the powerful lock miss all Sharks fixtures from this weekend through to the end of March. In anticipation of a lengthy ban, the Durban-based franchise deregistered Etzebeth earlier this week.
Etzebeth was shown a red card late in South Africa’s record 73–0 demolition of Wales in Cardiff after an altercation with Welsh flanker Alex Mann. Television footage showed Etzebeth making contact with Mann’s left eye using his right thumb.
An independent disciplinary committee ruled that the act was intentional. Etzebeth pleaded guilty to the charge and issued an apology. The panel initially set the sanction at 18 weeks but reduced it by six weeks after considering his previously clean disciplinary record.
The incident marked the first red card of Etzebeth’s 13-year international career. A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, he is also the most capped Springbok of all time with 141 Test appearances.
Etzebeth’s dismissal was the third red card shown to a Springbok lock during their unbeaten five-match European tour in November. Lood de Jager received a four-match suspension, while Franco Mostert’s red card was later overturned.
The lengthy suspension is a significant setback for both the Sharks and the Springboks as one of their most influential forwards begins an extended spell on the sidelines.
English