South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
