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

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the pitch 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While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

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

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

The forward and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

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