🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.