Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

Rugby player action — The player will miss for the Springboks' fall fixtures.

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.

Following the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.

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Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Genital Grab

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