Enough is enough
South African rugby has had to fight opposition on the field for years – but now, MARK KEOHANE argues, it’s fighting bias off it too.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane slams the nine-match ban handed to Bulls front-row forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels for alleged foul play against Connacht.
“Let’s call a spade a spade: the nine-game suspension handed to Jan-Hendrik Wessels is nothing short of outrageous,” he writes.
The disciplinary panel imposed the ban without clear video evidence.
“The referee and TMO team had nothing definitive to go on,” Keohane notes. “Murphy himself complained, yes. But a panel has penalised Wessels when the on-field officials did not.”
Adding to the anger, Connacht’s Josh Murphy had his red card overturned for striking Wessels in retaliation.
“That makes a mockery of the process,” says Keohane. “He lashes out because he claims his genitals were grabbed – and gets the red card overturned.”
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Keohane also highlights the lack of transparency in the all-Welsh panel’s ruling, contrasting it with how similar cases involving players from other nations are handled.
“Other nations, other players – with questionable actions, or worse video evidence – get lighter treatment. But not South Africa.”
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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus summed up the frustration in a post on X: “Now we have to beat them on the field … and in the boardrooms.”
For Keohane, this case is about more than one player.
“It is about principle,” he writes. “The laws must be applied fairly, which is not the case and too often affects South African teams.”
Josh Murphy red card for Connacht against Blue Bulls.
Was there a bit of ball grabbing before? #URC pic.twitter.com/BasUkyolXD
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) October 20, 2025
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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