South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

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

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel determined that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

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

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.