South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban 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 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
