Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
