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

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

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