Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.

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

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

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the incident met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.