Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
This event happened 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 striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.