🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht. This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares: "A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.