🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht. The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals. South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht. The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals." The panel were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history. Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.