South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.