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

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

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

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.