South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
