Etzebeth Sanction Delayed
Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth will have to wait a bit longer before finding out the verdict regarding his red card against Wales this past Saturday.
Etzebeth was sent off in the dying minutes of the Springboks’ 73-0 hammering of Wales in the Autumn Nations Series for sticking his thumb in the eye of Alex Mann. French referee Luc Ramos had no choice but to send the veteran off immediately.
World Rugby held a disciplinary hearing with Etzebeth on Tuesday evening – said to have begun at 7pm and run close to midnight – but a decision on his sanction could not be reached.
Etzebeth was due to learn his fate on Wednesday; however, considering the nature of his reckless act, the disciplinary panel would need to decide if his actions were ‘intentional’ or simply ‘reckless.’
This delay has led to a strange twist as the disciplinary panel could not agree on an appropriate punishment.
As a result, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner will have to wait until at least Sunday to learn what the sanction might be.
With Etzebeth set to face a potentially lengthy ban, the strongest mitigation would be that this is his first red card in his illustrious 141-Test career.
