Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
