Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

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

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.