South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
