Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
