Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
This event happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.
Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old 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 his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.