Springbok Player Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

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

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

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