Eben Etzebeth: South Africa lock handed 12-week ban for 'intentional' eye gouge on Alex Mann vs Wales

South Africa Lock Eben Etzebeth Slaps Wales' Alex Mann with 12-Week Ban for 'Intentional' Eye Gouge

In a damning verdict, an independent disciplinary committee has handed South African lock Eben Etzebeth a 12-week suspension for what was deemed an "intentional" eye gouge on Welsh prop Alex Mann during their Autumn Nations Series Test in Cardiff. The incident occurred in the final minute of the match, with South Africa already trailing by 73 points.

Etzebeth, who has amassed an impressive 141 test caps for his country, made contact with Mann's face while a skirmish erupted, prompting a TMO review that resulted in Etzebeth being shown a red card. The disciplinary committee deemed the act "intentional," taking into account the severity of the incident and Etzebeth's past record.

The suspension will cover 12 matches, including crucial Champions Cup and URC fixtures for the Sharks, which Etzebeth plays for at club level. The ban begins on December 7, with Etzebeth set to be free to return to action in April 2026. This news is a significant blow to South Africa's prospects in their upcoming games.

Etzebeth's absence will undoubtedly impact his team's chances of success, particularly in the Nations Championship against England in July 2026. The disciplinary body has made it clear that such behavior will not be tolerated in the sport, serving as a warning to players to adhere to the laws and maintain the highest level of sportsmanship.

The incident has sparked debate among fans and experts about the severity of Etzebeth's punishment and whether it is proportionate given his impressive record. Nevertheless, the disciplinary committee's decision serves as a reminder that foul play will not be condoned in rugby.

omg this is so harsh ! 12 weeks is a loooong time for just an eye gouge... i get why they want to send a message, but etzebeth's got a ton of experience and achievements under his belt... does he need to be out for that long? also gotta feel for alex mann, that was some nasty contact hopefully the player body will look into this and revisit the punishment in the future

I gotta say, 12 weeks feels like a bit too harsh for Eben Etzebeth, you know? The guy's had an amazing career and he's still got so much to give to the sport . I'm all for holding players accountable for their actions on the pitch, but it seems like this punishment is a tad excessive considering the circumstances. Maybe the disciplinary committee was trying to send out a clear message about what's not acceptable in rugby? Either way, it'll be interesting to see how Etzebeth and his team bounce back from this

Man, this 12-week ban for Eben Etzebeth feels like a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think? I mean, sure, he intentionally gouged Alex Mann's eye, which is pretty savage... But 12 weeks? That's a long time to sit out. It makes me wonder if the disciplinary committee was trying to send a message that this kind of behavior won't be tolerated, but at what cost to the player himself?

I also can't help but think about how this incident highlights the fragility of human contact in sports. We're all just trying to play the game, and sometimes our emotions get the better of us. It's not always easy to distinguish between a heat-of-the-moment mistake and something more intentional... like what Etzebeth did.

Still, I guess that's the beauty of having these disciplinary bodies – they keep us on our toes and remind us of the importance of sportsmanship. But can't we find ways to balance punishment with compassion?

just got done reading about Eben Etzebeth getting slapped with 12 weeks for eye gouging Alex Mann . i mean, i get it, Etzebeth's a top player and all, but come on! that was some nasty stuff right there . the thing is, it's not just about the severity of the incident or his past record, it's also about setting an example for younger players .

i'm no expert, but i think 12 weeks might be a bit excessive . i mean, you can't just take away someone's career like that . and what really gets me is the fact that this incident happened in the final minute of a match when South Africa was already losing . it's not like Etzebeth was trying to make a comeback or anything .

anyway, i guess you have to give props to the disciplinary committee for standing firm and saying "nope, we won't tolerate that kind of behavior" . but at the same time, it's hard not to feel a little sorry for Etzebeth . he's still a top player, after all .



[ASCII art: a simple diagram of a rugby ball with an "X" marked through it, representing the disciplinary action taken against Eben Etzebeth]

just saw that Eben Etzebeth got slapped with a 12-week ban for intentionally eye gouging Alex Mann... like what is going on with this guy?? he's already having a rough year, and now his team's gonna have to deal with the loss of their star player... not good

omg 12 weeks feels like forever what if he gets depressed or something? also i dont get why they cant just talk about it in person instead of making him watch some vids and stuff... like isnt thats what referees are for anyway, im just gonna keep watching rugby because etzebeth is a legend lol

I think this punishment is pretty fair considering what happened. I mean, Etzebeth made contact with Alex Mann's face and it was severe enough to warrant a red card. You can't just brush off an eye gouge like that! The fact that he has a good record doesn't change the severity of his actions . 12 weeks is a decent ban, especially considering how big the stage is - Champions Cup and all that. He's going to miss some crucial games, which will definitely impact South Africa's chances in the Nations Championship.

I do think it's a bit harsh on Etzebeth, though. I mean, he's been playing rugby for years without any major incidents. You'd think there might be some leeway given his experience and record . But at the same time, you can't just let players get away with intentional eye gouges because they're popular or have a good rep . The laws are in place for a reason, and I'm glad the disciplinary committee is enforcing them.

It's also interesting to see how fans and experts will debate this decision . Some will say it's too harsh, while others will say it's not harsh enough. As for me, I think 12 weeks is fair . The sport needs players who can police themselves and show respect on the pitch .

what's going on here? 12 weeks off for eye gouging? seems harsh to me... i mean, the guy was already getting hammered on the pitch but still, intentional or not, it's not a good look. is it really worth banning him for that long? and btw, why did he even do it in the first place? was he trying to hurt his opponent badly or just trying to win the game at all costs?

Man, I'm still reeling from this news . Eben Etzebeth's 12-week ban for intentionally gouging Alex Mann's eye is just harsh, you know? I mean, he's had an incredible career, and now this one incident ruins it for him . I'm not saying what the committee did was right, but 12 weeks is a pretty long time, even for someone who's been involved in a nasty brawl . And what really gets me is that Etzebeth has always been known as this gentle giant on the pitch, and now it seems like he's gone from being a hero to being a villain . I hope he can bounce back from this and show everyone he still got it . This kind of incident just makes me think about all those classic rugby rivalries from back in the day, like South Africa vs. New Zealand, where guys would actually get into full-blown fights on the pitch . Those were the days...

OMG, can you believe this ? Eben Etzebeth, one of South Africa's best locks, gets 12 weeks off for slapping Alex Mann with an "intentional" eye gouge ! I mean, it was a wild finish to the game, but 12 weeks is a long time, don't you think? It's definitely a blow to their chances of winning the Nations Championship against England in July. The laws of the game are clear: no intentional eye gouging! But seriously, 12 matches? That's a lot of rugby missed out on by Etzebeth and his team. The disciplinary committee did the right thing, though . We need to keep the sport safe for all players #RugbySafety #FairPlay #EtzebethSuspension

I think 12 weeks feels like a pretty harsh ban for just one incident ... I mean, we've all been in scraps on the pitch before and it doesn't always end with an eye gouge ... Etzebeth's got a lot of caps under his belt so yeah, you'd think he'd know better by now ... but at the same time, safety is key in rugby and that incident could've been really serious ... I guess 12 weeks is a fair sentence for something like that ... might make him think twice about going physical next time out