Eben Etzebeth free to play after ban in major twist to season

South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has completed his 12-week ban for gouging and will be available for the Sharks’ Challenge Cup tie with Connacht this weekend in Ireland.

The Sharks’ recent United Rugby Championship victory over Cardiff was the final match in the ban, which has run since his red card for gouging Wales’ Alex Mann in November.

With the Sharks heading into their first knockout fixture of the season, the return of one of the world’s premier players could hardly come at a better time.

Outside of the Challenge Cup, the double World Cup winner’s return could bring a seismic change to the URC table.

The Sharks are currently sat in 10th place in the URC standings, seven points adrift of the top eight teams in the competition who will qualify for the play-offs. While there are only four games remaining in the season, all four of the Sharks’ fixtures are against teams ranked lower than them in the table, including bottom-place Zebre.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Ospreys

11:45

18 Apr 26

Sharks

All Stats and Data

Things are out of the hands of JP Pietersen’s side to a certain extent, as they are reliant on other fixtures going their way, but they nevertheless have a golden opportunity to win their four remaining league fixtures and pile the pressure on the teams above them.

While the eighth-place Bulls, who are seven points ahead of the Sharks with 40 points, have another generous fixture list where they only play teams below them, the fixtures for the other sides in the battle for the top eight offer hope to the Sharks.

Ninth-place Connacht are on a five-match winning streak in the league, but three of their four remaining fixtures are against teams above them, including trips to South Africa to face the Stormers and the Lions.

Connacht are also set to play the severely out-of-form Munster, who are in seventh place with 41 points, eight points more than the Sharks. Regardless of who wins between Connacht and Munster, points will be dropped for at least one of the rivals in close proximity to the Sharks.

Cardiff, meanwhile, who are level on points with Munster, but sit in sixth place, still have to play leaders Glasgow Warriors, as well as the second-place Stormers, in their final two matches. This could open the door to a major points swing should they lose both fixtures while the Sharks pick up maximum points.

This ultimately will lead to a captivating finale to the regular URC season, and the return of the 141-cap Springbok is the sort of fillip for the Sharks which could have major ramifications.