Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
This event took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel determined that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
