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

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

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

While the URC announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions 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 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an infringement.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will prevent the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.