South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
