The Bulls reaction to Wessels ban is as much about due process as it is about selection headaches, and the fallout is stretching from Pretoria to the Springbok camp. Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been handed a nine game suspension for allegedly grabbing an opponent’s genitals during the United Rugby Championship clash against Connacht, a ruling that arrived despite inconclusive video evidence and one that the Bulls intend to challenge.
The decision lands at a sensitive time. The Bulls are preparing for Glasgow on Friday night, while the Springboks have five straight November Tests ahead. In both camps, Wessels’ versatility has been central to planning, which is why the timing and the manner of this outcome have struck a nerve.
What happened in Galway and why the ban landed
Midway through the first half in Galway, Connacht loose forward Josh Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson that Wessels had grabbed his genitals at a breakdown. The officiating team, with TMO Holly Davidson, reviewed the footage multiple times, yet there was no conclusive video to support an in game sanction. Murphy was later red carded for his retaliation, a strike to the head, while Wessels played on until the 59th minute.
On Thursday, the URC confirmed that a disciplinary panel found Wessels’ act met the red card threshold under Law 9.27, which covers actions against the spirit of good sportsmanship, including grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals. The entry point was low end at 12 weeks, reduced by three weeks for mitigation, resulting in a nine game suspension. The Bulls are expected to appeal, and privately the mood around Loftus has been described as incensed given the absence of new video evidence at the hearing.
Bulls stance and the coming appeal
Publicly, the tone has been measured. Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone said the team respects the process and the rights that come with it.
We are awaiting official notification from the URC. The Bulls remain respectful of the judicial process and its provisions, including the right to appeal.
Behind that calm statement sits a strong sense of perplexity. A comparison point raised in discussion has been other high profile cases that were dismissed due to a lack of proof, such as Kyle Sinckler’s biting allegation during the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour and the investigation into an alleged racial slur by Bongi Mbonambi during the 2023 World Cup, both of which went no further without evidence. The concern now is not only about Wessels, it is also about the precedent that could be set if allegations without conclusive footage can lead to lengthy bans.
Rassie Erasmus signals the mood
The ripple effect has reached the national setup. While not directly naming Wessels, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus appeared to reference the current climate in a post on X that captured the defiance felt by many in South African rugby.
It just got tougher, We now have to beat them on the field and in the boardrooms. Hamba man. Tsek. Loop Kak
The message speaks to a sense of fighting on multiple fronts. It also underscores the practical headache for the Springboks, since Wessels had been included in the 36 man touring group for the November schedule.
The Springbok selection puzzle
Wessels, 24, has nine Test caps and has primarily featured at loosehead prop in 2025, often replacing Ox Nche off the bench. The key detail is his versatility, he is equally capable of covering hooker, and that dual role is not easy to replace at short notice. Losing a player who straddles two specialist positions forces a rethink across the depth chart.
At hooker, the Springboks have Malcolm Marx and Johan Grobbelaar in the mix, with Bongi Mbonambi on standby and a candidate for recall if needed. If recent Test minutes are a priority, Rassie Erasmus could also consider Marnus van der Merwe, who made his Bok debut earlier this year, or turn to Andre-Hugo Venter. Each brings a distinct strength profile, and the choice would shape the bench balance through a demanding five Test run.
At loosehead, Ox Nche is joined by Boan Venter and Gerhard Steenekamp. There is no backup on standby listed at prop, so the coaches might look to Ntuthuko Mchunu, who has returned from a knee injury, or potentially an uncapped option to bolster depth. The calculus is complicated by travel, recovery windows and the need to maintain synergy in the front row.
Bulls matchday ripple ahead of Glasgow
For the Bulls, the immediate challenge is Glasgow away, a fixture that head coach Johan Ackermann said demands swift adaptation. He admitted the suspension took him aback, yet he also pointed to opportunity, with Etienne Janneke set for a bench role that could accelerate his development. The Bulls have framed the trip as a major benchmark for their defensive steel.
Results have been a mixed bag, but the trend is encouraging. The side sits sixth on the URC table with three wins in four matches and 14 points, and they are coming off a 28 to 27 away win in Galway that helped quieten early season criticism after conceding 14 tries and 99 points across the first three games. That victory was tempered by the controversy, yet it also hinted at a team learning to win tight contests on the road.
What the URC panel said
The URC released its ruling following Wednesday’s hearing, confirming the citing under Law 9.27 and detailing how the sanction was calculated. The panel comprised chair Declan Goodwin and members Simon Thomas and Leah Thomas, all from Wales. The decision arrived roughly a day after the hearing concluded, longer than is customary for such announcements.
The Disciplinary process related to Jan-Hendrik Wessels citing in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 4 game against Connacht Rugby on Friday, October 17 has resulted in a nine game suspension. The Panel overseeing the disciplinary process Declan Goodwin, Simon Thomas and Leah Thomas were satisfied that an act of foul play had occurred and found the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of low end warranting a 12 week suspension. The Panel reduced the suspension by three weeks due to the player’s good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record which results in a nine game suspension.
The list of games Wessels will miss if the ban stands
The immediate consequence is a long absence that straddles club and country. If the appeal does not succeed, Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks’ entire Outgoing Tour and several December fixtures for the Bulls in the URC and Champions Cup.
- Glasgow Warriors vs Bulls, 24 October 2025, URC,
- South Africa vs Japan, 1 November 2025, Outgoing Tour,
- France vs South Africa, 8 November 2025, Nations Series,
- Italy vs South Africa, 15 November 2025, Nations Series,
- Ireland vs South Africa, 22 November 2025, Nations Series,
- Bulls vs Lions, 29 November 2025, URC,
- Bulls vs Bordeaux Begles, 6 December 2025, Champions Cup,
- Northampton Saints vs Bulls, 14 December 2025, Champions Cup,
- Sharks vs Bulls, 20 December 2025, URC.
Why this decision feels bigger than one player
The debate is about evidence standards as much as it is about discipline. Match officials and the TMO searched replays more than ten times in Galway without finding conclusive proof, yet a separate disciplinary panel has reached a guilty finding and issued a heavy sanction. If upheld on appeal, the ruling could set a template in which player allegations without decisive footage still lead to lengthy bans.
It is here that the reference cases matter. The handling of the Sinckler and Mbonambi allegations, where processes stalled without evidence, is cited by those who fear a shift in the burden of proof. The Bulls are not only fighting for a player’s availability, they are also testing how the competition wishes to interpret and apply standards in moments where emotion and outrage collide with the requirements of proof.
Three immediate takeaways
- The Bulls will channel energy into depth planning while pursuing the appeal,
- The Springboks face a rebalancing act at hooker and loosehead through November,
- Decision makers across the URC will be watching the appeal for guidance on precedent.
Mapimpi ban adds another layer to a heated week
All of this has unfolded in a week already heated by another disciplinary headline. Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi received a five game suspension for a tip tackle during the Sharks’ 34 to 26 loss to Ulster in Durban, a sanction that was reduced from six matches after he acknowledged foul play. It was his third red card in three years, with the previous two related to eye gouging incidents in 2023 and in January this year.
The separate cases are not linked, yet together they contribute to a climate of scrutiny. For South African rugby, it means a sharper focus on discipline, on communication with officials, and on how to manage selections when availability can change swiftly. For the URC, it presents an opportunity to reinforce transparency in judicial decision making.
The road ahead
From here, the Bulls will await formal paperwork and the appeal window. Their task is twofold, handle Glasgow without a key squad member, and prepare a robust challenge to a decision they believe is flawed. For the Springboks, the task is simpler to describe and harder to execute, rebuild the touring puzzle at hooker and prop while preserving the power and cohesion that defines the pack.
In weeks like this, rugby shows its human edges. A one point win in Galway that should have built momentum is now overshadowed by hearings and headlines, and a player accustomed to straddling two positions for club and country sits on the sidelines. Whether the appeal changes the path or not, the questions raised by this episode will linger, and the answers, once they arrive, will shape more than one team sheet.
