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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies: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. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

However, the player's suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.