South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Receives Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Wessels has received a ban of nine games for grabbing Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after responding aggressively by striking the South African on the head.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the event was checked by the television match official, who found no definitive proof.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, twisting or squeezing the private areas."

The panel concluded that the event met the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was reduced by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during 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 rule the 24-year-old out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

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

The prop has won 10 caps for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.