Eben learns his fate

Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth has been slapped with a massive suspension after being found guilty of making intentional contact with the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann.

The ruling initially carried an 18-match sanction before being reduced to 12.

MORE: ‘Eben should have just punched him’

Etzebeth faced an independent disciplinary panel via video link after his red card in the Test against Wales on 22 November. The committee, chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC and featuring former England internationals Leon Lloyd and Becky Essex, reviewed footage and evidence before ruling that the incident met the threshold for intentional foul play under Law 9.12.

The panel settled on a mid-range entry point of 18 weeks/matches, but Etzebeth’s clean prior record and other mitigating factors saw his punishment trimmed by six games.

EX-IRISH REF: No eye for an eye for Eben

The 12-match ban runs through a critical period for the Sharks, ruling the world-class lock out of both Investec Champions Cup and Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures deep into March 2026. He will miss:

Champions Cup
• Dec 7 – Toulouse v Sharks
• Dec 13 – Sharks v Saracens
• Jan 10 – Sale v Sharks
• Jan 17 – Sharks v Clermont

United Rugby Championship
• Dec 20 – Sharks v Bulls
• Jan 3 – Lions v Sharks
• Jan 24 – Stormers v Sharks
• Jan 31 – Sharks v Stormers
• Feb 21 – Sharks v Lions
• Feb 28 – Bulls v Sharks
• Mar 21 – Sharks v Munster
• Mar 27 – Sharks v Cardiff

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images