Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

Wessels remained 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While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.