🔗 Share this article South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures. Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area. After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage. Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas." Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement. However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer. The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.