South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the incident reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

However, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing 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 fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

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

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.