South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
