🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab The player is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.