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

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

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

The forward and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

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

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.