🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.