🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.