Springbok legend Brian Habana hits out at James Ryan ban
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Not impressed.
Springbok legend Bryan Habana has hit out at the ban handed to Ireland’s James Ryan following his red card against South Africa over the weekend.
Ryan was sent off less than 20 minutes into the game following a dangerous clear-out on Malcolm Marx, with the Irish lock making clear contact to the head, with force.
Ryan appeared before an independent disciplinary committee, where he admitted he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. The committee deemed the offence to be in the mid-range tier, which carries an entry point of a six-game ban.
But because of his clean record and admission of guilt, the ban was reduced to three weeks, with Ryan able to reduce it even further to two weeks, should he attend the now infamous ‘tackle school’ set up by World Rugby.
Habana thinks the ban is far too lenient.
“Entry point? Interesting to understand how it is deemed “not intentional” and how Malcom Marx was “not vulnerable”?…” Habana wrote on X.
“But glad that we’re letting the world know that intentional reckless head contact only gives you 3 weeks if you say sorry.”
Entry point?
Interesting to understand how it is deemed “not intentional” and how Malcom Marx was “not vulnerable”?
But glad that we’re letting the world know that intentional reckless head contact only gives you 3 weeks if you say sorry… https://t.co/050meysC4z
— Bryan Habana (@BryanHabana) November 26, 2025
