Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
