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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.