Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest ban under international rugby rules for such an violation.

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

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.