Springboks powerhouse Jan-Hendrik Wessels is staring down the barrel of a hefty nine-week suspension that could see him sidelined for South Africa's key November internationals. This ruling stems from allegations of groping Connacht's Josh Murphy during a fiery United Rugby Championship encounter in Galway. While the Bulls celebrated a narrow 28-27 win, the aftermath has been anything but victorious for Wessels.
The incident exploded in the 18th minute when Murphy, after an intense scramble, accused Wessels of an inappropriate grab. In the heat of the moment, Murphy retaliated physically against Wessels, actions which saw him receive a red card. Murphy defended his reaction immediately, asserting to referee Mike Adamson, "He grabbed me here," indicating his groin area, and insisted, "Sir, look it back, he grabbed me here, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise." Adamson, while understanding, maintained that Murphy's response was still out of line, stating, "I understand what you’ve said, I will check that, but listen, what you did is unacceptable..."
"He grabbed me here,"
Despite video reviews, TMO Hollie Davidson found no conclusive evidence to support Murphy's claim, leading to his punishment while Wessels initially walked free. However, recent developments have flipped the script. Declan Goodwin, overseeing the disciplinary hearing, has imposed a nine-week suspension on Wessels, sidelining him for all upcoming internationals against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales. The decision mirrors a past similar sanction when ex-England prop Joe Marler faced a 10-week ban for a comparable offense in 2020.
The controversy has not just stirred reactions on the field but has also drawn sharp criticism from former Irish referee boss Owen Doyle, who slammed the handling of the event by the officials. Doyle expressed his bafflement in his column, particularly about the severity of Murphy's red card, suggesting that a mere penalty might have been a more equitable outcome given the circumstances.
This suspension is a significant blow to the Springboks' roster, already reeling from Makazole Mapimpi's five-game suspension. Wessels' potential absence adds another layer of challenge as the team preps for a grueling international tour.
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Springboks powerhouse Jan-Hendrik Wessels is staring down the barrel of a hefty nine-week suspension that could see him sidelined for South Africa's key November internationals. This ruling stems from allegations of groping Connacht's Josh Murphy during a fiery United Rugby Championship encounter in Galway. While the Bulls celebrated a narrow 28-27 win, the aftermath has been anything but victorious for Wessels.
The incident exploded in the 18th minute when Murphy, after an intense scramble, accused Wessels of an inappropriate grab. In the heat of the moment, Murphy retaliated physically against Wessels, actions which saw him receive a red card. Murphy defended his reaction immediately, asserting to referee Mike Adamson, "He grabbed me here," indicating his groin area, and insisted, "Sir, look it back, he grabbed me here, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise." Adamson, while understanding, maintained that Murphy's response was still out of line, stating, "I understand what you’ve said, I will check that, but listen, what you did is unacceptable..."
"He grabbed me here,"
Despite video reviews, TMO Hollie Davidson found no conclusive evidence to support Murphy's claim, leading to his punishment while Wessels initially walked free. However, recent developments have flipped the script. Declan Goodwin, overseeing the disciplinary hearing, has imposed a nine-week suspension on Wessels, sidelining him for all upcoming internationals against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales. The decision mirrors a past similar sanction when ex-England prop Joe Marler faced a 10-week ban for a comparable offense in 2020.
The controversy has not just stirred reactions on the field but has also drawn sharp criticism from former Irish referee boss Owen Doyle, who slammed the handling of the event by the officials. Doyle expressed his bafflement in his column, particularly about the severity of Murphy's red card, suggesting that a mere penalty might have been a more equitable outcome given the circumstances.
This suspension is a significant blow to the Springboks' roster, already reeling from Makazole Mapimpi's five-game suspension. Wessels' potential absence adds another layer of challenge as the team preps for a grueling international tour.