South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
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 victory over Connacht.
This event took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
