Eben Etzebeth Suspended 12 Weeks for Eye Gouge

South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 weeks after an independent disciplinary committee concluded he intentionally gouged Wales forward Alex Mann during the Autumn Nations Series Test at the Principality Stadium on 22 November 2025. The incident occurred in the final minute of a match in which South Africa led 73-0. Etzebeth, capped 141 times for his country, had come on as a replacement and was shown a red card following a TMO review that found he made contact with his thumb to Mann’s eye during a skirmish.

The committee applied a mid-range entry point of 18 weeks for the offence but reduced that by six weeks because of mitigating factors, principally Etzebeth’s clean disciplinary record in Test rugby (he had never previously been sent off), resulting in a 12-week suspension.

At club level with the Sharks, Etzebeth will miss the next 12 fixtures across the EPCR Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship and will be ineligible to play until April 2026. South Africa’s next Test is not scheduled until July 2026 when they host England in the inaugural Nations Championship.

27 March 2026 - Sharks vs Cardiff Rugby, United Rugby Championship

In an official statement the disciplinary body said Etzebeth appeared before the independent committee via video link after receiving a red card for foul play contrary to Law 9.12. After reviewing the player’s evidence and match footage the committee determined the contact with the eye was intentional and that an 18-week entry point was appropriate, with mitigating factors reducing the sanction to 12 weeks. The full written decision is available on the discipline section of the Six Nations Rugby website.