Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during 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' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
