🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled 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, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. 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 Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled 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, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints. 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 Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.