Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
The player is ruled out for the Springboks' upcoming test matches.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.
The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.
Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."
The panel concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior 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 rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He 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 fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.
