South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.
