South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
