South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:

"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.