Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.