South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

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

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

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

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

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