Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
