Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

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

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.

However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

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