Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was examined by the TMO, who found no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel determined that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, Wessels' ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the Bulls' league matches 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 tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.