South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.