Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures 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 eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.