Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
