South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
