Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.

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

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

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

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