Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, 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 games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
