Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will miss for South Africa's autumn internationals.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
This event occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"A player must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.
