Springboks Suffer Dual Setbacks for Upcoming Tour
With the announcement of a five-week suspension for Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi, the four-time World Champions have encountered another significant challenge ahead of their end-of-year tour. Reports indicate that front-row player Jan Hendrik Wessels has been handed a lengthy ban.
Wessels, known for his versatility to play both as a prop and hooker, was involved in an incident during a United Rugby Championship match against Connacht, where he allegedly grabbed the genital area of loose forward Josh Murphy.
In response, Murphy retaliated by hitting Wessels on the head, leading to a red card from referee Mike Adamson.
Murphy stated, “He grabbed me there, look at it back, he grabbed me there, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise,” indicating the nature of the confrontation.
Despite the review from Adamson and TMO Hollie Davidson deeming the evidence inconclusive, a subsequent disciplinary hearing has reportedly found Wessels guilty of foul play without conclusive footage.
The judicial committee has handed Wessels a hefty nine-week suspension. This decision has sparked frustration from Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who expressed his concerns on social media.
Erasmus tweeted, “It just got tougher !! We now have to beat them on the field and in the boardrooms. Hamba man. Tsek. Loop Kak.”
The suspension is expected to be appealed; however, if the appeal is rejected, Wessels will miss several crucial matches for both the Bulls and the Springboks in the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.
Article by Riaz Hamed
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