South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the contact reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.