South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
