🔗 Share this article South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.