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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

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