Springbok Etzebeth banned for 12 weeks over eye gouge

South Africa’s double World Cup winner second row Eben Etzebeth was given a 12-week suspension for her eye damage against Wales.

In the Springboks’ 73-0 win over Wales last Saturday, the 34-year-old was spotted making contact with Alex Mann’s left eye with his thumb.

Etzebeth had started in Cardiff as a substitute but French referee Luc Ramos sent her a straight red card in the 79th minute.

A second 24-hour investigation followed a meeting of an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday, which ended up with a decision.

The panel, led by Christopher Quinlan KC, determined that eye contact was appropriate and that it should have been done at 18 weeks. That was reduced to 12 weeks due to adjusting factors, including the player’s previous performance.

After Franco Mostert and Lood de Jaeger and Lood de Jaeger and Franco Mostert, the South African forward, was the third to receive a red card in four matches this fall.

A disciplinary panel later downgraded Mostert’s red and downgraded it to a yellow.

The minimum ban for eye-gouging in World Rugby is 12 weeks at the low end, with maximum punishment of four years.