Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Springbok front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

Although the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

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

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

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