Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced 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 have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri 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 Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.