South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
