🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension 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 Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension 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 Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.