Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss 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.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
