South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Genital Grab

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

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

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.