South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
