Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the level for dismissal and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, 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 games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.