Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
