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

South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident happened in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was checked by the TMO, who found insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.