South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right 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 the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.