South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:
"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.
Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
