Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the close contest in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the event was examined by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated the code of conduct, which states:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials determined that the event met the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest ban under World Rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bordeaux and Northampton.

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

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