🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.