South African Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.