South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

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

Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

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

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

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