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united-rugby-championship
Double Rugby World Cup winner Makazole Mapimpi has been suspended for 5 matches because of the a 20-minute purple card he obtained within the Sharks’ 34-26 defeat to Ulster in Durban final weekend.
Shortly after scoring a strive, the winger adopted team-mate, Vincent Koch, into the sin-bin, additionally for a tip deal with on Michael Lowry, within the fifty fifth minute of the sport.
Of their deliberations, the disciplinary panel took Mapimpi’s poor disciplinary report into consideration, highlighting the purple playing cards he obtained in 2023 and 2025.
In consequence, the sanction was solely introduced down by one sport from the unique low-end, six-game entry level for contravening Legislation 9.18 – a participant should not carry an opponent off the bottom and drop or drive that participant in order that their head and/or higher physique make contact with the bottom.
Within the participant’s responses to the judicial officer overseeing the disciplinary course of, he had accepted that he had dedicated an act of foul play which warranted a purple card, which led to the one week mitigation.
Two days in the past, Mapimpi was included on the 10-strong standby listing for the Springboks’ November tour. As he’ll now be unavailable for the primary 4 video games towards Japan, France, Italy and Eire, head coach Rassie Erasmus could draft one other exterior again in.
Ought to Erasmus resolve to take away the 35-year-old from the listing altogether – making an allowance for he’s solely out there for the conflict towards Wales in Cardiff on 20 November – it may sign the tip of his Springbok profession.
In that case, it could be a massively disappointing approach for Mapimpi to bow out of the Take a look at area.
Fixtures Makazole Mapimpi is unavailable for:
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Scarlets, 25 October 2025 BKT URC
South Africa v Japan, 1 November 2025, Citadel Lager Outgoing Tour
France v South Africa, 8 November 2025, Quilter Nations Sequence
Italy v South Africa, 15 November 2025, Quilter Nations Sequence
Ireland v South Africa, 22 November 2025, Quilter Nations Sequence
