South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
