Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
