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'He’s a good friend and I'm devastated': Joe Heyes
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Springbok Jan-Hendrik Wessels' massive ban made official by URC
By Josh Raisey
The United Rugby Championship have officially confirmed that Bulls hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been banned for nine weeks for grabbing the genitals of Connacht’s Josh Murphy last week.
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The Springbok’s ban had been widely reported across media outlets, with Rassie Erasmus even showing his outrage online, and it was only seen as a matter of time before the URC made the outcome of the hearing public.
The incident, which actually resulted in a red card for Murphy due to his reaction, resulted in an initial 12-week ban for the versatile front-row, but that was reduced to nine due to his good record.
Wessels will, of course, now miss South Africa’s November internationals, where they face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales, having been named in Erasmus’ squad earlier this week. His return will come in the last fixture of 2025, in a South African derby against the Stormers.
The Bulls have the right to an appeal.
A URC statement reads: “The Disciplinary process related to Jan-Hendrik Wessels citing in the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 4 game against Connacht Rugby on Friday, October 17, has resulted in a nine-game suspension.
“The Citing Commissioner in charge reported Vodacom Bulls player No 2 (Jan-Hendrik Wessels), for an act of foul play in the 18th minute under Law 9.27 – A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals.
“The panel overseeing the disciplinary process Declan Goodwin (Chair, Wales), Simon Thomas (Wales) and Leah Thomas (Wales), were satisfied that an act of foul play had occurred and found the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of low-end warranting a 12-week suspension. The panel reduced the suspension by three weeks (25% mitigation) due to the player’s good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record which results in a nine-game suspension.
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