Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.
After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.
While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:
"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.
However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.
