South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials determined that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, 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 Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.