🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.