🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.