South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"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 incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's ban 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 challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
