Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
