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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

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

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

Although the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

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

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