🔗 Share this article South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.