South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
