Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked 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.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:

"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

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

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

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

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.