Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.