South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned 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 contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
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 South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
