Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states: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. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
