Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.
However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with BĂšgles and Northampton.
The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
