Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving 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 event was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
