🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted 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 Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted 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, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.