🔗 Share this article South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.