Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
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 touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
