South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
