South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent 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' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

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

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