South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He 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 Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
