Springbok Player Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.