South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

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

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

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

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

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

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