Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
