Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was reduced 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 suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
