South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
