Etzebeth returns from 12-week suspension to face Connacht
Springbok Eben Etzebeth will make his first start since serving a 12-week ban for an eye gouge whilst on international duty against Wales.
Etzebeth's red card against Wales in November 2025 was his first sending off in 141 internationals for South Africa [Getty Images] Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make his first start since serving a 12-week ban for an eye gouge against Wales in November 2025. The 34-year-old, who has won 141 caps for South Africa and is their most-capped Test international of all time, has been included in the Sharks team to face Connacht in the Challenge Cup round of 16 on Friday (20:00 BST). The two-time World Cup winner was shown a straight red card in the 79th minute after making contact with the eye of Wales' Alex Mann in their thumping 73-0 win in Cardiff and was subsequently banned for three months .
He is one of seven Springboks to make the trip to Galway for the knock-out match as Sharks head coach JP Pietersen brings a relatively understrength side to the west of Ireland with captain Andre Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi and Grant Williams among those not in the squad. Connacht welcome back captain Cian Prendergast to their starting line-up as head coach Stuart Lancaster makes seven changes to the side following their 21-14 defeat to Ospreys last week. The 26-year-old is joined by fellow Irish internationals Bundee Aki and Darragh Murray in the starting line-up with Finlay Bealham named in the replacements.
After missing their last two matches, full-back Sam Gilbert returns with Chay Mullins coming in on the wing, and Matthew Devine gets the nod at scrum-half as Ben Murphy drops out of the matchday squad altogether. Sharks are unbeaten in their last two URC games, recording wins over Cardiff and Munster, but have only won six matches in the league this season while Connacht are on a winning run of five matches as they make a late dash for a play-off spot. Stuart Lancaster's side also hold the upper hand on Sharks, having won four of their last five meetings.
Connacht: Gilbert; Jennings, Forde, Aki, Mullins; Ioane, Devine; Bohan, Heffernan, Illo; Joyce, Murray; Murphy, Hurley-Langton, Prendergast (capt) Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Dooley, Bealham, Murray, Boyle, Reilly, Naughton, Devine. Sharks : Kunene; van der Merwe, Malan, Potgieter, Mapimpi; Smith, Braude; Nche, Swart, Koch; Etzebeth, Slabbert; Mavesere, Potgieter, Hatton (c). Replacements: Bester, Mazibuko, Mdanda, Rahl, Tshituka, Everson, Masuku, Hooker.