Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
