Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
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Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted 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 cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
