South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
