Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
