🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old 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 URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old 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 URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.