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

Springbok prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

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

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' suspension 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 suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.