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

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the URC announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the genitals."

The panel determined that the event met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

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

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

The prop has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.