South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

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

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.