South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy 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 Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
