Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
