South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
