Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

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

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

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

The panel concluded that the incident 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 ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

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