🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days 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 ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures. South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days 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 ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.