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

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He 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 Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.