South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
