Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
