Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.

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

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri 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 European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.