Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

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

This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

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

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

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

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

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