Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
