South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

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

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

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

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

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

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