South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
Wessels is ruled out for South Africa's fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states: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 touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels 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 cleared.
