South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, 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 tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
