🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht. The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence. Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.