Rugby fans, brace yourselves! South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi is off the field for a while. The accomplished winger, with two World Cup titles under his belt, has been slapped with a five-match ban after an ugly tackle in a recent United Rugby Championship clash between the Sharks and Ulster. Playing hard against Mike Lowry, Mapimpi’s tackle was deemed illegal, as it lifted Lowry’s legs above the horizontal, leading to a dangerous fall. The ref wasn’t having it, and out came the 20-minute red card. Ulster capitalised on the situation and secured victory.
This ban means he’s out for several of South Africa’s key autumn internationals against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and yes, Wales. Although only on standby for the Springboks, the timing couldn’t have been worse for Mapimpi.
His track record hasn’t helped his case either. With previous red cards on his record in 2023 and again in 2025, the disciplinary panel wasn’t feeling generous. They gave him a minor concession for acknowledging his fault, reducing the ban from six to five weeks. In the past, Mapimpi faced consequences for a similar infraction, having made contact with the eye area of another player, which had also resulted in a suspension. This upcoming absence leaves him missing only one match with the Sharks, but four crucial international games.
Mark your calendars for his return game against Connacht at the end of November, when he’ll be back on the pitch. Despite this setback, the upcoming matches promise plenty of action without him. Stay tuned for more rugby drama as the season unfolds! 🏉🇿🇦