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

Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by striking Wessels on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to the match official, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who determined insufficient clear footage.

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

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

"A player should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the event reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under international rugby rules for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior prior to and at the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but currently, the ban will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, Italy and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

Murphy, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.