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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have violated law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the suspension will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

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