South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
