South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's 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 suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.