Springboks front rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been slapped with a nine-game ban for grabbing the genitals of another player during a United Rugby Championship match.
The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the Vodacom Bulls' 28-27 win over Connacht on October 17.
In a replay of the incident, Connacht foward Josh Murphy could be seen reacting angrily as he tussled with the Bulls player during a ruck.
Murphy struck Wessels on the head and appealed to the referee, who checked the TMO but could find no conclusive evidence.
He was handed a 20-minute red card for the strikes.
A week later, following a disciplinary process, Murphy's red card was rescinded, and Wessels was handed a nine-game suspension.
The panel found an act of foul play had occurred, and that the incident met the red card threshold.
"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals," it said.
The panel reduced the ban by three weeks, from twelve to nine, due to "the player’s good conduct prior to and at the hearing and good record".
Both Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal.
The man means Wessels will be forced to miss several URC matches, as well as the Springboks' upcoming tests against Japan, France, Italy, and Ireland.
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