Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
