Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
