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

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being exonerated.