South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
