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

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

This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy'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 spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.