🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward 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' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward 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' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.