Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

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

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was examined 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.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.