South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
