South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, 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 part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
