Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact
The player will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.
The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.
After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.
Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.
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.
The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.
