South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

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

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

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.