Eben Etzebeth won't be back on a rugby field until late March

The veteran Springbok forward has been handed a 12 week ban for eye gouging Welsh opponent Alex Mann at the weekend.

An independent disciplinary panel had a starting point of 18 weeks for what they deemed a deliberate 'mid range' offence.

But, his favourable disciplinary record - particularly no red card in his 140 prior internationals - saw the ban downgraded by 12 weeks.

Etzebeth will miss three months worth of matches for his club Sharks, but will be free to play when the international season resumes in June.

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