🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. 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 altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. 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 altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head. Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.