South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.
Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
The panel were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.
The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
