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

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

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