South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.

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

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.