South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
