Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
