Eben Etzebeth will miss a huge chunk after the Sharks’ season after an independent disciplinary panel determined that he was guilty of serious foul play in the Springboks’ final Test of the year.
The panel, upon reviewing all evidence, decided that Etzebeth had made intentional contact with the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann, and a “mid-range” entry point of 18 games was appropriate as a sanction. However, Etzebeth’s clean prior record and other mitigating factors saw his punishment trimmed by six games.
The disciplinary body, operating under the Quilter Nations Series, made the following determinations as set out in their official statement:
- This was an offence of foul play contrary to law 9.12, as admitted by the Player.
- As the Player rightly admitted, that act of foul play met the red card threshold.
- It was an offence of contact with the eye of an opponent, not eye area.
- It was intentional contact with W7’s eye.
Full Disciplinary Verdict Details on the Eben Etzebeth case
- Offense finding: The Disciplinary Committee determined that the contact with the eye was intentional.
- Entry Point: Based on the finding of intentional contact, a mid-range entry point of eighteen weeks/matches was deemed appropriate under World Rugby’s sanctioning framework.
- Note: For ‘Intentional Contact with Eye(s)’, the mid-range entry point is 18 weeks, the low-end is 12 weeks, and the top-end is 24+ weeks.
- Mitigating factors and reduction: The Committee applied mitigating factors, including the player’s previous record, reducing the eighteen-week entry point by six weeks to a final sanction of twelve weeks/matches.
- Player testimony: Etzebeth denied making intentional contact, stating that he and the Welsh player, Alex Mann, were shoving each other. He claimed he intended to push Mann against the shoulder to gain control after Mann had pulled his jersey and hit him with an open palm. He stated he “did not, at any stage, aim for his eyes or intend to make contact with his eye.”
- Panel’s counter-finding: The disciplinary panel was satisfied that Etzebeth “knew what he was doing” as the footage showed his thumb in Mann’s eye for “roughly one second” and he “continued pushing down, still grimacing” as Mann bent away. They concluded it was “intentional targeting of the face and eye” and he did not desist until pulled apart.
You can read the full verdict here
Sharks matches he will miss
Champions Cup
7 December: Toulouse vs Sharks
13 December: Sharks vs Saracens
10 January: Sale vs Sharks
17 January: Sharks vs Clermont
URC
20 December: Sharks vs Bulls
3 January: Lions vs Sharks
24 January: Stormers vs Sharks
31 January: Sharks vs Stormers
21 February: Sharks vs Lions
28 February: Bulls vs Sharks
21 March: Sharks vs Munster
27 March: Sharks vs Cardiff
