The Sharks have been hampered in their race for a top two finish in the URC by the suspension of Springbok finisher Makazole Mapimpi.
Mapimpi was accused of making contact with the eyes of Cardiff replacement hooker Efan Daniel during the round 10 match in the Welsh capital two weeks ago and was on Tuesday handed a three-match suspension for foul play.
Mapimpi making contact with the eyes is fine now is it? pic.twitter.com/XKiZ3sg1ub
— SmallClone (@Smallclone_) January 25, 2025
As a result, Mapimpi will not be available to the Sharks in any of their next three URC matches, all of which happen to be derbies against SA rivals, including the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld next week, followed by a showdown against the Lions at Ellis Park on 1 March, and the return match at Kings Park the following week.
The Sharks are currently in fourth place on the URC standings, level on points but with a game in hand on Cardiff (5th) and one point behind the Bulls.
The citing commissioner in charge reported Mapimpi for an act of foul play under Law 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking.
In the player’s responses to the judicial officer overseeing the disciplinary process, he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.
The judicial officer found that the incident met the red-card threshold, with a lower-end entry point warranting four weeks.
Mapimpi received two weeks (50%) mitigation due to his apology and participation in the disciplinary process. He was previously cited for a similar offence in the 2022-23 EPCR season which resulted in suspension. This was considered an aggravating factor, warranting a further one-week sanction and a three-game suspension.
Photo: Chris Fairweather/Gallo Images
