Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

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

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

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.