🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.