South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
