South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the pitch 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 overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

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

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.