South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
