South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
