🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head. Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy 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 Saints. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht. The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head. Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match. Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas." The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy 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 Saints. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.