🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling 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 suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling 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 suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.