South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
