South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, Wessels' suspension 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 have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
