South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
