Tour Over For De Jager As Four-Game Ban Handed Out
Springbok lock Lood de Jager will miss the remainder of the end-of-year tour after an independent disciplinary committee upheld his red-card in the 32-17 victory over France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
De Jager was sent off just before half-time by referee Angus Gardner for a tackle on French fullback Thomas Ramos, where his shoulder made contact with Ramos’ head. Strangely, Ramos was not ordered to leave the field for an HIA.
After reviewing the incident on the field, Gardner along with his two assistants and the TMO, determined that de Jager’s actions met the permanent red-card threshold – instead of yellow carding the 32-year-old and sending the incident to be reviewed by the Foul Play Review Officer.
The full disciplinary update can be seen below:
South Africa number 5, Lood de Jager, appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee this afternoon via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.16 in the match between France and South Africa on Saturday 8th November 2025.
The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), joined by former referees Val Toma (Romania) and Donal Courtney (Ireland).
The Disciplinary Committee has upheld the red card issued to the player and by applying World Rugby’s sanctioning provisions, have determined that the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate. Mitigating factors were applied by the Committee reducing the six-week entry point by two weeks, thus reducing the final sanction to four weeks/matches.
The suspension will cover the following matches:
15 November 2025 – Italy vs South Africa, Quilter Nations Series
22 November 2025 – Ireland vs South Africa, Quilter Nations Series
29 November 2025 – Wales vs South Africa, Quilter Nations Series
14 December 2025 – Wild Knights v Toshiba Brave Lupus, Japan League One*
De Jager can further reduce the ban period to three matches by completing World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
The Springbok lock was unable to get a full mitigation of three weeks from his initial six-week ban due to the fact that he did not plead guilty, in an attempt to contest the red card and have it rescinded, as Irishman Tadhg Beirne did successfully.
The panel did however find de Jager to be remorseful and conducted himself well in the hearing.
The red card during the game seemed to galvanise the World Cup champions as they went into another gear and romped home against the highly-rated French.
The Bok camp have had to deal with their fair share of suspensions recently as the de Jager suspension follows the suspensions to Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Whether Rassie Erasmus will call in a replacement is yet to be seen as South Africa appear to have sufficient cover at lock for the remainder of the tour.
Although the Springboks are losing a player with massive ability and experience there is little doubt that the outcome of this will stem to bring an already close-knit squad, even closer, and that they will take to the field with a further point to prove.
