Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, the player's suspension 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 Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Saints.

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

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.