Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
