Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
