Etzebeth returns after serving the harsh sanction from World Rugby for his expulsion in the Springboks against Wales

Eben Etzebeth will return to the field this weekend after serving the 12-match ban imposed on him by World Rugby for his expulsion against Welsh in November. The second line of the Sharks was enabled and will be available for the duel against Connacht in Ireland for Challenge Cupwhich will mark his official return to competition after more than three months of inactivity.

The two-time world champion had been punished under Law 9.12, which includes acts of foul play and contact with the eye area. The infraction was suffered by Welshman Alex Mann in South Africa’s 73-0 win over Los Dragones Rojos. The disciplinary committee considered that there was intentionality in the action and initially set a sanction of 18 weeks, which was later reduced to 12 games due to the mitigating circumstances presented by the player. The suspension had a full impact on the Sharks’ season, which had to face a good part of the United Rugby Championship and European competition without one of its leaders.

His last suspended game coincided with the Sharks’ recent victory over Cardiff at the URC, so Etzebeth was automatically eligible to reappear right at the start of the decisive matches. His return comes at a key moment where the South African franchise faces its first qualifying match in the Challenge Cup and still has a mathematical chance of getting into the playoffs of the domestic tournament, where it is currently outside the top eight.

Beyond the immediate impact on the forward pack, the return of the second row can also alter the end of the season in the URC. The Sharks are seven points away from the classification positions and, with an accessible final schedule and several direct duels between close rivals, the presence of a player with the experience and hierarchy of Etzebeth, one of the Springboks with the most caps in history, appears as a decisive sporting and emotional boost to attempt a comeback in the table and fight until the end for a place in the postseason.