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South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been slapped with a 12-week suspension following his sending-off for an eye gouge on Wales flanker Alex Mann during last weekend's crushing 73-0 victory in Cardiff. The Springboks' second row, his country's most-capped player of all time, saw red from referee Luc Ramos in the dying moments after match officials studied replays of the incident.

A Six Nations disciplinary panel, acting under the Nations Series regulations, has now issued a substantial ban that will sideline Etzebeth for the bulk of what remains of the club campaign. The committee ruled the offence constituted deliberate eye contact, establishing a mid-range starting point of 18 weeks.

Taking into account Etzebeth's largely unblemished disciplinary history alongside other mitigating circumstances including an admission of guilt, the sanction was cut to 12 weeks.

The statement confirmed: "South Africa number 19, Eben Etzebeth, appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.12 in the match between South Africa and Wales on Saturday 22 November 2025.

"The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC, joined by former international players Leon Lloyd (England) and Becky Essex (England).

"Having considered the Player's and other evidence and reviewed the footage, and for the reasons set out in the full written decision (which is available now in the discipline section of the Six Nations Rugby website), the Disciplinary Committee have determined that contact with the eye was intentional and a mid-range entry point of eighteen weeks/matches was appropriate. Some mitigating factors, including the Player's previous record, were applied by the Committee reducing the eighteen week entry point by six weeks to twelve weeks/matches."

Etzebeth has only made two appearances this season for the Sharks, who are set to commence their Investec Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse on Sunday. The Durban-based team currently languishes at 14th place in the URC, having secured just one victory.

The 34-year-old is expected to make his comeback in April.

Etzebeth will be sidelined for 12 matches, all of which will be crucial games for the Sharks.

South Africa's next international match is scheduled for July 2026, when they will face England in Johannesburg during the opening weekend of the inaugural Nations Championship.

This incident marks the third red card handed to a Springbok player in November, although Franco Mostert's expulsion against Italy was subsequently rescinded.