🔗 Share this article Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht. This event took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: "A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence. However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. 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 eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht. This event took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head. After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage. The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC confirmed that Murphy'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 spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals." Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence. However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team. Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton. 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 eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.