South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

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

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel determined that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

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

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.