Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He 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 ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
