South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined 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 temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
