Springbok Forward Wessels Handed Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

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

This event took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was examined by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

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

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

"A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

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

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.