South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

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

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.