Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages 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 deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
