South African Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

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