Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head.
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 stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
