South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
