South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
