Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
