Springbok Forward Wessels Receives Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

The incident occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by hitting Wessels on the head.

After the Connacht player complained to referee Mike Adamson, the event was reviewed by the television match official, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.

Although the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was withdrawn by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or compressing 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.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by three weeks because of his good conduct during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will also miss the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to play against Munster in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.