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

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

This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head area.

Following the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

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