CONNACHT FORWARD JOSH Murphy has had his red card against the Bulls overturned and is free to face Munster this Saturday.
As reported by The 42 earlier on Thursday, a URC disciplinary panel has rescinded the 20-minute red card Murphy received for striking Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the head during last Friday’s Round 4 clash between Connacht and the Bulls at Dexcom Stadium.
Springbok front row Wessels, meanwhile, has been suspended for nine games for allegedly grabbing Murphy’s genitals prior to the Connacht man’s sending off.
An all-Welsh panel of Simon Thomas, Declan Goodwin and Leah Thomas decided that while Murphy had committed an act of foul play on Wessels, it did not meet the red card threshold.
The same panel, however, were “satisfied” that Wessels had committed a more serious offence on Murphy moments prior to the Connacht forward’s perceived act of retaliation.
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Wessels was cited under Law 9.27, which states that “a player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship”.
“This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals,” a statement issued by the URC on Thursday afternoon emphasised.
Wessels’ offence was deemed a low-end entry, for which the suspension would begin at 12 weeks.
His ban was then reduced by three weeks “due to the player’s good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record”.
The 24-year-old will miss South Africa’s November Tests and the Bulls’ Champions Cup openers, albeit both the player and the club have the right to appeal his suspension.
Murphy’s 20-minute red card for Connacht occurred the 18th minute of last Friday’s 28-27 defeat to the Bulls.
After he and Wessels became entangled on the ground, Connacht blindside Murphy twice lashed out at the Bulls hooker. Murphy struck the South African in the head in full view of referee Mike Adamson, with whom the Connacht man immediately remonstrated as he rose to his feet.
The outraged Murphy gestured towards his groin area and told Adamson, “He grabbed me here”, adding, “Sir, look at it back: he grabbed me here. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Adamson responded: “I understand what you’ve said. I will check that but listen, what you did is unacceptable…”
Adamson then deliberated with his TMO, Hollie Davidson, but no conclusive video footage of Wessels’ alleged offence could be found.
Murphy consequently received a 20-minute red card, while Wessels remained on the field for a narrow Bulls win at Dexcom Stadium.
But Murphy will now face no further punishment for his sending off, while Wessels is set to miss the next nine games for club and country pending a likely appeal.
– Originally published at 4pm. Updated at 5:30pm with confirmation from the URC that Murphy’s red card has been rescinded
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Connacht's Josh Murphy cleared to face Munster as Bulls forward Wessels hit with 9-game ban
LAST UPDATE | 23 Oct 2025
CONNACHT FORWARD JOSH Murphy has had his red card against the Bulls overturned and is free to face Munster this Saturday.
As reported by The 42 earlier on Thursday, a URC disciplinary panel has rescinded the 20-minute red card Murphy received for striking Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the head during last Friday’s Round 4 clash between Connacht and the Bulls at Dexcom Stadium.
Springbok front row Wessels, meanwhile, has been suspended for nine games for allegedly grabbing Murphy’s genitals prior to the Connacht man’s sending off.
An all-Welsh panel of Simon Thomas, Declan Goodwin and Leah Thomas decided that while Murphy had committed an act of foul play on Wessels, it did not meet the red card threshold.
The same panel, however, were “satisfied” that Wessels had committed a more serious offence on Murphy moments prior to the Connacht forward’s perceived act of retaliation.
Wessels was cited under Law 9.27, which states that “a player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship”.
“This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals,” a statement issued by the URC on Thursday afternoon emphasised.
Wessels’ offence was deemed a low-end entry, for which the suspension would begin at 12 weeks.
His ban was then reduced by three weeks “due to the player’s good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record”.
The 24-year-old will miss South Africa’s November Tests and the Bulls’ Champions Cup openers, albeit both the player and the club have the right to appeal his suspension.
Murphy’s 20-minute red card for Connacht occurred the 18th minute of last Friday’s 28-27 defeat to the Bulls.
After he and Wessels became entangled on the ground, Connacht blindside Murphy twice lashed out at the Bulls hooker. Murphy struck the South African in the head in full view of referee Mike Adamson, with whom the Connacht man immediately remonstrated as he rose to his feet.
The outraged Murphy gestured towards his groin area and told Adamson, “He grabbed me here”, adding, “Sir, look at it back: he grabbed me here. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Adamson responded: “I understand what you’ve said. I will check that but listen, what you did is unacceptable…”
Adamson then deliberated with his TMO, Hollie Davidson, but no conclusive video footage of Wessels’ alleged offence could be found.
Murphy consequently received a 20-minute red card, while Wessels remained on the field for a narrow Bulls win at Dexcom Stadium.
But Murphy will now face no further punishment for his sending off, while Wessels is set to miss the next nine games for club and country pending a likely appeal.
– Originally published at 4pm. Updated at 5:30pm with confirmation from the URC that Murphy’s red card has been rescinded
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