Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.