Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

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

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

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