South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled 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 the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
