South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
