South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
