Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
