Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

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

Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.