Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing 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 close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.