🔗 Share this article Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province. The altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game. While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation. Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.