Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

This event took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the field 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While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

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