Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
