South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
