Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension 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 challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
