Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri 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 European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
