South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward 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 Japan, France, Italy 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 Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.