Springbok Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

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