Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab
The player will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
