Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced 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 governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.