Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
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.
