Big blow for Sharks season as Etzebeth faces lengthy suspension decision
This was the scuffle that led to Eben Etzebeth being sent off in the Springboks' Test against Wales in Cardiff.
Image: Paul Ellis / AFP
THE Sharks face a significant setback as Eben Etzebeth prepares for a disciplinary hearing that is expected to rule him out for a large portion of their season.
The Springbok lock will learn his fate this week after being sent off for an eye-gouge incident in Saturday’s Test against Wales.
Etzebeth’s case will be heard on Tuesday afternoon, with the outcome expected on Wednesday morning. The impending suspension stems from the red card issued late in the match, a moment that has dominated discussion since the Test and ultimately took the shine off an otherwise dominant South African display.
If the act is ruled as “intentional contact with eye(s)”, World Rugby’s guidelines list a low-end sanction of 12 weeks, mid-range at 18 weeks and high-end at 24 weeks or more, with possible mitigation.
Should the incident be deemed reckless rather than intentional, the low-end entry point is four weeks, mid-range eight weeks and top-end 12 weeks or more.
SA Rugby and MyPlayers will represent Etzebeth at the hearing and are expected to argue that he reacted to a form of provocation during an earlier scuffle.
He could also receive consideration for a key mitigating factor: this is his first red card in 141 Test matches since debuting in 2012.