Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
