🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches. South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game. Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team. Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.