South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts 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 receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
