South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found 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 confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.