Mapimpi’s ban impacts Boks as well as Sharks

Springbok and Hollywoodbets Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi has been handed a five-match ban that will rule him out of being a standby player for the national squad on their November tour of the UK, Ireland, France and Italy as well as Saturday’s Vodacom URC match against Scarlets.

Mapimpi was not selected for the tour but he was named as one of the standby players who can be called upon in the event of an injury to one of the selected players.

The scorer of the first ever Bok try in a Rugby World Cup final in 2019 has been sanctioned for the illegal tackle that saw him red carded in the second half of the Sharks’ URC loss to Ulster in Durban last weekend.

Here is the act of foul play by Makazole Mapimpi which has seen him handed a five-match ban 🟥

In his response to the Judicial Officer, he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card.#SSRugby | #VURC pic.twitter.com/PMwIDkYfi5

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 22, 2025

It seems a harsh ban but it was made clear by the URC disciplinary committee that heard his case that Mapimpi’s poor disciplinary record prior to this last weekend’s game was taken into account in the process.

“The player received two red cards in 2023 and 2025 and cannot be said to have a clean disciplinary record,” said the DC in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon.

Mapimpi accepted in his responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie, that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.

Mackie found that the incident met the red card threshold, with the entry point of low end warranting the suspension.

SHARKS NEED TO REJIG

The fixtures that have been listed as games that the Sharks wing will be unavailable for are Saturday’s URC game against the Scarlets at Hollywoodbets Kings Park and the Bok fixtures against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland in November.

He could theoretically be called to play for the Boks in the last tour game against Wales at the end of November, and will be available to play for the Sharks against Connacht that same day (29 November).

The immediate impact on the Sharks is that they will need to rejig their back three for the Scarlet game, something that might have more far-reaching implications than just who plays on the wing in his place.

Another Bok wing, Edwill van der Merwe, has been used at fullback in the last few games and the absence of Mapimpi might necessitate a move back to the wing, which could mean that Jordan Hendrikse comes into the last line of defence.

With Siya Masuku having been poor against Ulster, and Hendrikse probably the fourth ranked Bok flyhalf, the smart money would have been on Hendrikse playing No 10 against the Scarlets but there is a chance he could be used in his other position, wearing the No 15.

The Sharks team for the Scarlets game will be announced on Thursday.