Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
