Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC victory over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to the match official, the situation was examined by the television match official, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

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

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, the Springbok was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

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

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

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was reduced by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

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