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The under-fire South African star has landed a temporary coaching role after being hit with a lengthy ban
South Africa star Eben Etzebeth is set to lend a hand with the Sharks coaching team following his lengthy ban for eye-gouging Wales’ Alex Mann.
The move comes amid head coach John Plumtree’s decision to stand down as the team’s head coach after the upcoming Champions Cup clash with Toulouse.
Etzebeth has been banned for 12 weeks for his role in the incident, although he has denied he intended to make contact with Mann’s eye.
His ban was reduced by six weeks by a disciplinary panel, a decision that was partially due to a favourable character reference from New Zealand’s Ardie Savea.
Nevertheless, he is now suspended for all of the Sharks’ four Champions Cup pool matches, and also stands to miss out on eight United Rugby Championship fixtures over the next three months.
His absence had caused Etzebeth to be deregistered by the Sharks, a move made to try to accommodate an extra player in their 42-man squad.
They are set to register him again should they reach the play-offs in April.
“It’s just an admin thing really,” head coach Plumtree, father of Wales star Taine, said.
“Eben’s devastated. It’s a big blow for us. One of our star players, an important part of our tight five and also our leadership. It’s not ideal at all,
“He’s very remorseful, obviously. He knows what an impact it can have on a club like ours.”
Plumtree added the Sharks will readdress the situation under coach JP Pietersen, who is set to take the reins of the team when they return to South Africa, where they have home clashes against Saracens and the Bulls to come.
In the mean time, Etzetbeth is set to take on an temporary coaching role with the team, with Plumtree keen to keep him around the camp.
“He [Etzebeth] will come and do some coaching with our juniors,” he added. “He’ll help out some of our seniors as well.
“He needs to be around. He’ll take a break now, obviously.
“He’s got a pretty young family, but we’ll get him doing some tasks for us which will help.”
