Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
