Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

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