Mapimpi slapped with heavy ban
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Sharks and Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi has learnt his fate following a dangerous tackle executed in his side’s 26-34 United Rugby Championship loss to Ulster this past Saturday.
After an act of foul play by Mapimpi, referee Ben Whitehouse showed the player a red card in the 55th minute of the game under Law 9.18 – A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.
In the player’s responses to the judicial officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Sheriff Kathrine Mackie), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, which warranted a red card.
Sheriff Mackie found that the incident met the red card threshold, with an entry point of low-end warranting six weeks.
The player received two red cards in 2023 and 2025, and cannot be said to have a clean disciplinary record.
The Player received one week of mitigation after acknowledging and accepting act of foul play was committed, resulting in a five-game suspension.
Fixtures Makazole Mapimpi is unavailable for:
October 25: Sharks v Scarlets (URC)
November 1: South Africa v Japan (Outgoing Tour)
November 8: France v South Africa (Nations Series)
November 15: Italy v South Africa (Nations Series)
November 22: Ireland v South Africa (Nations Series)
