Springbok prop Wessels hit with lengthy ban for grabbing genitals of Connacht's Murphy

The gruesome incident occurred in the opening half of the Bulls victory in Galway on Friday and the front rower will now miss the Boks' entire autumn schedule 

NINE-GAME BAN: Vodacom Bulls' Jan-Hendrik Wessels is tackled by Cian Prendergast of Connacht

South Africa will be without Jan-Hendrik Wessels for their November internationals after the front-rower was hit with a nine-match suspension for grabbing the genitals of Connacht's Josh Murphy in the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win last Friday.

The gruesome incident occurred in the opening half of the Bulls victory in Galway, with Murphy shown a 20-minute red card after lashing out at Wessels after the clash. The back row complained to referee Mike Adamson, however TMO Hollie Davidson found no conclusive video evidence of foul play on Wessels' part. 

However a URC panel found Wessels guilty on Thursday and he was hit with the lengthy ban. 

"The Citing Commissioner in charge reported Vodacom Bulls player No 2 (Jan-Hendrik Wessels), for an act of foul play in the 18th minute under Law 9.27 – A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals," said a URC press release on the decision. 

Wessels was a part of the Springboks squad that won the Rugby Championship this summer and has won 10 international caps. 

The URC panel were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and should result in a 12-week suspension. However they made the decision to "reduce the suspension by three weeks (25% mitigation) due to the Player's good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record".

The Springboks have a hectic Autumn Internationals schedule ahead with a total of five games — against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales. 

Later on Thursday the same panel – Simon Thomas (chairman, Wales), Declan Goodwin (Wales) and Leah Thomas (Wales) – found that while an act of foul play involving Murphy occurred, it did not meet the red card threshold. It was therefore rescinded and the flanker is now available for Connacht duty this weekend.