Wessels ban cut by one week

An Independent Appeal Hearing was held on Wednesday regarding the citing and subsequent suspension of Jan-Hendrik Wessels of the Vodacom Bulls which had resulted in a nine-game ban.

An independent appeal committee led by Roddy MacLeod (Scotland) as Chair alongside Achille Reali (Italy) & Robert Milligan KC (Scotland) convened to determine the appeal. The player and the club requested a de novo hearing. However, having regard to the United Rugby Championship’s disciplinary rules, the panel considered that there were not exceptional circumstance to allow the request.

Accordingly, the appeal proceeded on the basis that the player and the club wished to challenge the decision of the initial hearing and the length of the ban. The basis of such an appeal requires an appellant to demonstrate that the first instance disciplinary panel erred in its findings. After reviewing the grounds of appeal and hearing from the player and his club the appeal committee dismissed the substantive grounds of appeal but reduced the ban by one week.

The panel did so on the basis that the initial reduction from the low-end entry point (of 12 weeks) did not take into account an aspect of the player’s conduct in the context of the case. Accordingly, the appeal committee determined that four weeks should be deducted from the headline entry suspension.

The player will now miss eight games and will be free to play from December 20.

Due to the unique nature of this case, once the final written report related to the Appeal Hearing has been submitted to the United Rugby Championship by the Chair, both reports for the initial hearing and the Appeal will made available for review.

In keeping with standard practice, the United Rugby Championship will not be making any comment on the Independent Disciplinary process and considers the matter closed.

Fixtures Wessels is unavailable for

Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls, 24 October BKT URC

South Africa v Japan, 1 November, Castle Lager Outgoing Tour

France v South Africa, 8 November, Quilter Nations Series

Italy v South Africa, 15 November, Quilter Nations Series

Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Quilter Nations Series

Vodacom Bulls v Lions, 29 November URC/Wales v South Africa, 29 November

Vodacom Bulls v Bordeaux Begles, 6 December, Investec Champions Cup

Northampton Saints v Vodacom Bulls, 14 December, Investec Champions Cup