South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

Although the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

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

Murphy, in contrast, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.