Bok star Jasper Wiese receives his ban
UPDATE: Springbok No.8 Jasper Wiese will miss some key Rugby Championship matches after he received his ban for a headbutt in last weekend’s clash against Italy.
On Tuesday, World Rugby revealed that the 29-year-old received a four-match suspension following a disciplinary hearing.
Wiese received a red card for the incident, which occurred in the 20th minute of the match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The ban will rule him out of the closing Incoming Series match against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday, as well as the first three Rugby Championship Tests against Australia in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively (16 and 23 August), and the first game against New Zealand in Auckland (6 September).
Wiese will be back in contention for selection for the last three Rugby Championship matches in September and October.
According to World Rugby’s statement, Wiese “accepted that foul play had occurred but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card”.
The disciplinary committee “decided that the offence warranted a low-end entry point of six matches”. However, they “decided on a final sanction of four matches”.
See below for World Rugby’s full disciplinary update:
South Africa’s Jasper Wiese has been suspended for four matches for a red card offence contrary to Law 9.12 (striking with the head). The red card was issued in South Africa’s match against Italy on 12 July 2025.
The independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) met on Sunday, 13 July and was chaired by Roddy Dunlop, joined by former players Jamie Corsi (Wales) and Olly Kohn (Wales).
In accordance with the remit of the new expedited off-field sanction process trial operational in the Summer (July) Internationals, sanctions are proposed in line with Appendix 1 of Regulation 17.
The FPRC meets without the attendance of the player or their representatives, or World Rugby. However, written submissions may be provided by the player to the FPRC for consideration.
The FPRC has the power to:
- Issue a warning
- Offer the player a proposed sanction based on Appendix 1 of Regulation 17
- Refer the matter for a full hearing before a Disciplinary Committee
- Dismiss the red card and/or citings only in the case of mistaken identity
- The FPRC decided to refer the matter for a full hearing before a Disciplinary Committee.
The Disciplinary Committee (DC) met on Tuesday, 15 July 2025 and was chaired by Rhian Willians (Wales), joined by former international Match Officials Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Valeriu Tomu (Romania).
The player accepted that foul play had occurred but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card.
The DC considered the player’s submissions, along with the clips and other available evidence and found that the red card was upheld. While the red card issued was for Law 9.11 (a player must not do anything reckless or dangerous), the Committee agreed that the offence should be 9.12 (striking with the head).
The Committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted a low-end entry point of six matches. Having considered submissions as regards mitigation, the Committee decided on a final sanction of four matches.
The player is therefore suspended for the following matches:
- South Africa v Georgia – 19 July 2025
- South Africa v Australia – 16 August 2025
- South Africa v Australia – 23 August 2025
- New Zealand v South Africa – 6 September 2025
Because the DC sat as the first instance hearing body, the player has 48 hours to appeal from receipt of the full written decision.
