South Africa: Rassie 'Livid' After Hooker Wessels Cops Nine-Week Ban for Alleged Testicle Assault

23 October 2025
Daily Maverick (Johannesburg)
By Craig Ray

Bulls and Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended for nine weeks following a United Rugby Championship disciplinary hearing.

The Bulls are set to appeal against a nine-week ban handed to prop/hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels for an act "against the spirit of good sportsmanship".

The burly front-ranker was punched by Connacht flanker Josh Murphy in the 19th minute of their United Rugby Championship (URC) match last Friday. The Irishman alleged that Wessels had grabbed his testicles at the ruck, causing him to react violently.

Murphy received a red card for his actions, while Wessels played on. Only later was the Bulls man cited for the alleged assault on the Irishman's nether regions.

Wessels is a key member of the Springbok squad and looked guaranteed to be one of the two hookers for vital matches against France and Ireland on the Boks' coming Northern Hemisphere tour. Those chances are slim now.

"The Vodacom Bulls fully respect and will adhere to the judicial process, which provides for an appeal opportunity," Bulls chief executive Edgar Rathbone told Daily Maverick. They will appeal.

Initial reports that Wessels was facing a nine-week ban circulated in the past few days, and the URC confirmed the sanction late...

Read the full story on Daily Maverick.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 Daily Maverick. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.