Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
