South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the event was examined by the television match official, who determined no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's 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 have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.