Springbok Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation took place in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking the South African on the head.

Following the Connacht player complained to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

Wessels remained on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an infringement.

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

Wessels and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but currently, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.