South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during 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 Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
