Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."

The panel determined that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, 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, Italy and the Irish team.

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

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.