South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
