South African Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who found no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

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

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.