South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown 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 event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
