🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.