🔗 Share this article South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension 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 his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 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 play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches. Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area. After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof. Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: "Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas." The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement. Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history. The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension 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 his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. The prop has won 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 play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.