Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
