Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks 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 domestic clash after being exonerated.