Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

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

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

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

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

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

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