South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing 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 South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
