🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland. He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.