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

Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

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 appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

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

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.