Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels 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 overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
