🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area. After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.