Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Genital Grab
The player will miss for South Africa's upcoming test matches.
Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.
The altercation occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.
Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.
The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.
While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:
"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."
The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an violation.
However, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.
Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.
Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.
Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.