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

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

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