Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct 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 suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
