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

Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.

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

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.

However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.