South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.
After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.
Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.