South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:
"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
