South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled 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, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
