South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
