Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
