Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who found no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.