South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
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 touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension 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.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
