🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.