South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned 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 principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel determined that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.