Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
