Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.
After 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.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
