Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
