Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

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

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

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

Wessels has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.