South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field 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While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
