South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
