South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after striking back by striking the South African on the head area.

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

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

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player should not engage in actions that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the incident met the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was shortened 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 are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.