đź”— Share this article Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals. Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province. The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area. Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who found no definitive proof. The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match. While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares: "A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals." The panel concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence. However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record. The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland. He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton. Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament. Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.