Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
