South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during 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 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
