South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
