Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.