🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.