South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban 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.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
