South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
