Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

He 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 Northampton.

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

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.