South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing 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 rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.