Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned 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 face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
