Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
