South African Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

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

The incident happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.