Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Wessels faces a suspension of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

This event happened in the 18th minute of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels 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 stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

While the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player must not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

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

However, Wessels' suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels 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 the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Saints.

The prop has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being exonerated.