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

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

The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which states:

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an violation.

However, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux 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 face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.