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

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the 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 during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.