South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

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

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.