South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
