Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
