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

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

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

Disciplinary officials determined that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks 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 currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.