Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

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

Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.