🔗 Share this article South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints. The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.