South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event took place 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 striking the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

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

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

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

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

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