South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
