South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

This event occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the event was checked by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have violated the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the incident met the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

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