South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
