South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
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 Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
