South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels 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.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
