Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened 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 appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, 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 South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.