Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations 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 good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
