South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over the Irish province.

The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the later stages of the game.

While the URC announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete must not engage in actions that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the contact met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player 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 URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

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