South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
