🔗 Share this article South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The altercation happened in the 18th minute 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 hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The altercation happened in the 18th minute 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 hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.