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

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.