🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area. After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas." The panel determined that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.