South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
