Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.