South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
