South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
