South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
