Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.