South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
