🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.