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

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.