South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.