Eben Etzebeth handed 12-week ban for eye-gouge incident

South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has received a 12-week suspension following his red card for making contact with the eye area of Wales flanker Alex Mann during their Test match on 22 November 2025.

Etzebeth appeared before an independent disciplinary committee via video link after being sent off under Law 9.12, which covers acts of foul play involving eye contact.

The panel was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC alongside former England internationals Leon Lloyd and Becky Essex.

After reviewing multiple camera angles and submissions from all parties, the committee ruled that the contact with Mann’s eye was intentional. This placed the offence at a mid-range entry point of 18 weeks.

Etzebeth’s previously clean disciplinary record and conduct during the hearing were taken as mitigation, reducing the sanction by six weeks. The final suspension will therefore run for 12 matches for his club Sharks in the upcoming EPCR Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship.

Schedule of matches to be missed by Eben Etzebeth

7 December 2025 – Toulouse vs Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
13 December 2025 – Sharks vs Saracens, EPCR Champions Cup
20 December 2025 – Sharks vs Bulls, United Rugby Championship
3 January 2026 – Lions vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
10 January 2026 – Sale Sharks vs Sharks, EPCR Champions Cup
17 January 2026 – Sharks vs Clermont, EPCR Champions Cup
24 January 2026 – Stormers vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
31 January 2026 – Sharks vs Stormers, United Rugby Championship
21 February 2026 – Sharks vs Lions, United Rugby Championship
28 February 2026 – Bulls vs Sharks, United Rugby Championship
21 March 2026 – Sharks vs Munster, United Rugby Championship
27 March 2026 – Sharks vs Cardiff Rugby, United Rugby Championship