Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will miss for the Springboks' autumn internationals.
South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.
The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.
Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:
"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."
The panel determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.
He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.
Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
