Wessels has been handed a nine-week suspension for foul play during the Bulls’ narrow 28-27 United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht in Galway a week ago. On Thursday, the URC confirmed the Bloemfontein-born player had been found guilty of breaching Law 9.27 during the 18th minute of the encounter at the Sportsground.

“The Citing Commissioner in charge reported Bulls player No. 2 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) – was satisfied that an act of foul play had occurred and found that the incident met the red card threshold, with a low-end entry point warranting a 12-week suspension. 

“The panel reduced the sanction by three weeks (25% mitigation) due to the player’s good conduct before and during the hearing, as well as his good disciplinary record, resulting in a nine-week suspension.”

The sanction means that Wessels will miss nine matches across the URC, the Springboks’ end-of-year tour, as well as the Bulls’ opening Champions Cup fixtures.

Wessels had been set to play on Friday night in the Bulls’ URC clash against Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.

The 42ie reporting that Josh Murphy has been cleared to face Munster despite clear-cut evidence of him punching Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

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Ackermann admitted that the suspension is a setback to their plans but added that it opens the door for another player to step up – in this case, Etienne Janeke, who comes onto the bench.

“He would’ve been in the team, and of course, the hearing caught us a bit off guard,” said Ackermann.

“But then the decision came, and now we just have to adapt. That’s one of the things I believe a team must be able to do. We need to be adaptable, and once again, it’s going to test our character in that regard.

Etienne Janeken (right). Photo: Morgan Piek

“It’s also an opportunity for Etienne, with Alulutho Tshakweni having gone back to South Africa, to grab this chance.

“It just shows how quickly an opportunity can come.”

Meanwhile, the Bulls did make a late change to their team with Jan Serfontein ruled out due to a stiff neck after initially being named in the squad. He will be replaced in the starting number 12 jersey by Harold Vorster.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Photo: Morgan Piek

Friday’s URC clash between the Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow kicks off at 20:45.

Glasgow Warriors - 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti

Replacements - 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Alex Craig, 21 Euan Ferrie, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Dan Lancaster

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Replacements - 16 Juann Else, 17 Etienne Janneke, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 JJ Theron, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs