Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
