🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. 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 Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. 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 Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.