🔗 Share this article South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct 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 young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct 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 young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.