Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.