An Independent Appeal Hearing was held today (Wednesday, October 29) 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 no exceptional circumstances 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 be 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 Jan-Hendrik Wessels is unavailable for:
- Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls, 24 October 2025, Vodacom URC
- South Africa v Japan, 1 November 2025, Castle Lager Outgoing Tour
- France v South Africa, 8 November 2025, Quilter Nations Series
- Italy v South Africa, 15 November 2025, Quilter Nations Series
- Ireland v South Africa, 22 November 2025, Quilter Nations Series
- Vodacom Bulls v Lions, 29 November 2025 Vodacom URC / Wales v South Africa, 29 November
- Vodacom Bulls v Bordeaux Begles, 6 December 2025, Investec Champions Cup
- Northampton Saints v Vodacom Bulls, 14 December 2025, Investec Champions Cup