South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted 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Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right 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, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
