🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, 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 South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match. While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, 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 South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.