🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.