South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.