Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations 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 good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
