Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
