🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.