Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
