Springbok Forward 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 opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.

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

While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

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

The panel concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He 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 Northampton.

The prop has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.