South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
