Eben Etzebeth, a key player in South Africa’s rugby team and a two-time World Cup champion, has been handed a 12-week suspension for an eye gouging incident during the match against Wales. The incident occurred in the Springboks’ dominant 73-0 victory on Saturday, where Etzebeth was seen making contact with Welsh player Alex Mann’s left eye using his thumb.
In the closing stages of the match, Etzebeth, who had come on as a substitute, received a straight red card from French referee Luc Ramos in the 79th minute. This incident marks the first red card of Etzebeth’s extensive international career, spanning 141 matches, and his suspension means he will miss games for his club Sharks, competing in both the United Rugby Championship and the European Champions Cup, up until the end of March 2026.
Following the incident, an independent disciplinary panel convened, initially planned for a quicker decision-making process, decided to take an extra day to deliberate. The panel, led by Christopher Quinlan KC, determined that the contact with the eye was intentional, classifying the act as a “mid-range” offense with a typical starting ban of 18 weeks. However, considering Etzebeth’s prior clean record, the panel reduced the suspension to 12 weeks.
Etzebeth’s red card is not an isolated incident; he is the third South African forward to receive a red card in just four matches this autumn, joining Franco Mostert, who faced Italy, and Lood de Jager, who saw red against France. Notably, Mostert’s red card was later rescinded and downgraded to a yellow.
World Rugby’s regulations on eye-gouging are stringent, with penalties ranging from 12 weeks for intentional contact to a maximum of four years depending on the severity of the offense. For reckless eye contact, bans can range from six weeks to four years, while less serious infractions can result in suspensions of four weeks to one year.
As the sport evolves, such disciplinary actions reflect the ongoing commitment to ensuring player safety and maintaining fair play on the field.