South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation 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.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
