Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.