South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel 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 infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
