Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
