Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking the South African on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

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

While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.