đź”— Share this article South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, 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 are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province. The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head. Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match. Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states: "Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals." The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence. Nonetheless, 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 are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer. Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.