Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings 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.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.