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

South Africa prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined insufficient clear footage.

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

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player 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 event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

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

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

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