South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban 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 Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.

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

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.