Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
