Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

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

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

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

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies: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 spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.