Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth has accepted a 12-week ban for eye-gouging Wales' Alex Mann but insists the act was unintentional, contradicting the disciplinary committee's finding of intentional contact. The 34-year-old double World Cup winner posted on Instagram on Wednesday, apologising and stating that 'unfortunately mistakes happen'.
Etzebeth, who plays for the Sharks, was initially handed an 18-week suspension for a mid-range offence, reduced to 12 weeks due to mitigating factors including his clean disciplinary record. He will be sidelined until April. In his post, he said: 'I accept guilt. I made a mistake and I’m willing to serve a suspension which I deserve.'
The lock claimed that the incident began when Mann struck him in the neck or chin area, which went unnoticed by officials. He said he retaliated with an open-handed blow aimed at Mann's shoulder, but two Welsh players and a teammate altered the trajectory, leading to accidental eye contact. 'I would never do something like this on purpose,' he wrote.
However, the independent disciplinary committee, which announced its verdict last week via the Quilter Nations Series, stated: 'Having considered the Player’s and other evidence and reviewed the footage … the Disciplinary Committee have determined that contact with the eye was intentional.' Etzebeth's Instagram post included three videos he claimed showed the full context of the fracas.
