South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls 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 the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
