Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

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

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

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