South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
