Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension 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 matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the 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 receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at 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, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
