How long Springbok Eben Etzebeth could be banned for eye-gouge
South Africa's Eben Etzebeth leaves the field having received a red card by French referee Luc Ramos (L) during the Autumn Nations Series International rugby union test match against Wales at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff on November 29, 2025. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP
Image: Paul Ellis/AFP
While the Springboks ran out 73-0 victors over a hapless Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, the match was marred by the justified red card lock Eben Etzebeth received just before full time.
Etzebeth was involved in a scuffle with Welsh flank Alex Mann, and the most-capped Springbok was seen on TV replays clearly sticking his thumb in his opposition player’s eye.
It was the final match of the Springboks’ November tour, after previous victories over Japan, France, Italy, and Ireland.
According to World Rugby’s sanctions, Etzebeth could face a lengthy ban.
Etzebeth’s potential ban: Likely to be between 4 and 52 weeks
The minimum ban for “intentional contact with the eye” is four weeks, while the high-end sanction can be more than 12+ weeks. In fact, the maximum ban can be as many as 52 weeks (one year), but it’s believed that will not be applied in this case due to the good disciplinary record of Etzebeth throughout his long international career.
In his 141 appearances for the Springboks, Etzebeth has never received a straight red card before, which will be a factor in his hearing. However, he has been banned for two weeks before for an attempted headbutt, but that was back in 2012.
If Etzebeth can prove the eye-gouge was not intentional and also prove mitigating circumstances like provocation, he may be able to keep the ban closer to the low end, which will be around four weeks.
After the match, Springbok skipper played down the incident when he said: “I am sure Eben did not mean that because he knows the consequences. I am sure it will be revealed that it was an accident.”