🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.