South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
