Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
