Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies: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 contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
