South Africa's Makazole Mapimpi applauds supporters following the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool B match at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium, France.
DURBAN - The Springboks have been dealt a major blow with Makazole Mapimpi handed a five-match suspension.
The winger will now be unavailable for the world champions’ end-of-year tour.
The suspension follows his being sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ulster fullback Michael Lowry in a United Rugby Championship encounter last Saturday.
The disciplinary process ruled that the incident met the red card threshold, with a low-end entry point of six weeks.
The ban was, however, reduced by one week after Mapimpi acknowledged and accepted that he'd committed foul play.
The double World Cup winner was one of ten players on standby for the tour of Europe.
The end-of-year tour kicks off on 1 November.