![\"Jan-Hendrik](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jan-hendrik-wessels.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSouth African rugby player Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been handed a nine-week suspension after being found guilty of misconduct during the Bulls\u2019 United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht in Galway last Friday.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old front-row forward was cited for inappropriate contact with opponent Josh Murphy during the first half of the match, an incident that was not penalised by officials at the time but later reviewed by the competition\u2019s disciplinary panel.<\/p>\n
The flashpoint occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls\u2019 narrow 28\u201327 victory, when Wessels was seen making contact with Murphy\u2019s lower body during a ruck.<\/p>\n
Murphy reacted angrily, striking Wessels twice on the head, and was shown a red card that later proved decisive in the game\u2019s balance. <\/p>\n
Following a review, the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Wessels had breached Law 9.27 of World Rugby\u2019s code, which prohibits actions \u201cagainst the spirit of good sportsmanship, including grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murphy\u2019s dismissal was subsequently overturned after the disciplinary panel accepted his explanation and rescinded the card, ruling that his retaliation, though inappropriate, had been provoked. <\/p>\n
Wessels, meanwhile, was sanctioned for his conduct and will now serve a nine-week ban, ruling him out of South Africa\u2019s Autumn Internationals against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.<\/p>\n
A statement from the URC\u2019s independent disciplinary panel noted that the offence carried a minimum sanction of 12 weeks, reduced to nine in recognition of Wessels\u2019s previously clean record and good behaviour during the hearing. <\/p>\n
Jan-Hendrik Wessels is set to miss some big upcoming matches for South Africa<\/p>\n
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The player remains entitled to appeal the decision, though that is considered his only remaining path to rejoining the national squad before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Murphy was visibly frustrated at the time of the incident and pleaded with referee Mike Adamson to consult the television match official, Hollie Davidson.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe grabbed me here,\u201d Murphy was heard saying, gesturing towards his lower body.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, look at it back \u2014 he grabbed me here, I wouldn\u2019t have done it otherwise.\u201d <\/p>\n
Adamson responded: \u201cI understand what you\u2019ve said, I will check that, but listen, what you did is unacceptable.\u201d Match footage, however, proved inconclusive on the day, prompting the later disciplinary review.<\/p>\n
The ruling represents a blow for South Africa\u2019s head coach Rassie Erasmus, who had included Wessels in his 36-man squad ahead of the November internationals. <\/p>\n
The Springboks are already contending with another suspension, after winger Makazole Mapimpi received a five-week ban earlier this month for a dangerous tackle on Ulster\u2019s Michael Lowry during the Sharks\u2019 defeat in Belfast.<\/p>\n
Reacting on social media as the decision became public, Erasmus wrote cryptically on X: \u201cIt just got tougher!! We now have to beat them on the field, and in the boardrooms. Hamba man. Tsek. Loop Kak.\u201d Though he did not mention Wessels by name, the post was widely interpreted as a response to the latest disciplinary setback for his squad.<\/p>\n
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