South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests 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 Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
